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We Are the Day

By: CrackedChaos



Prologue

She was my opposite in every way imaginable; her hair was silken cornflower, her eyes the shade of a cloudy, winter day, her figure was slender, yet curvy. And she was human.

I tried not to follow her, but I had to know her. There was no other choice. Her scent called to me like a siren to a sailor's ship. I knew this path led to destruction, but I sure as hell would enjoy the ride.

-Damian Andros



Chapter One

"No, I'm not covering Amanda's shift again, Tony. She's only calling off so she can go clubbing, I have to study tonight," I told my manager after logging into the register to ring up my last table.

"Taylor, what could a few extra tables hurt? I'm sure you need the tips. Plus, I'll give you an hour lunch."

I sighed, my shoulders slumping. I could use the money. Paying for college on a part-time waitressing gig sucked big time. "It could hurt my grades. I need to study."

"Okay, I'll give you an hour and a half for lunch. You can use that time to study," he said in a sing song manner, no doubt hoping to entice me.

"Add a free meal and we have a deal."

"Oh, I knew you'd come through, Taylor. You always do!"

Yep, that was me-sweet, dependable Taylor. Always there when someone else needed her, but never there for herself. "Story of my life," I sighed before heading back to the table I was waiting. "Alright, guys," I put on my cheesy, friendly, waitress face, "thank you for stopping by Bar Louie today. I hope you come back and see us sometime soon!"

As much as I wanted to mean that, I didn't. The couple that sat before me was so cute it made my eyes hurt. I was tired of seeing happy couples snuggling in their booths, or walking hand in hand on campus...It seemed everywhere I went, there were pairs and I was stuck at either work or school-alone. I had no time for a personal life, let alone sharing one with someone; but I was still envious. In a way, I had no right to be. My best friend, Kenna, invited me out on numerous occasions where there were bound to be "tons of smoking hot, single, guys", as she put it, but on those rare days when I had absolutely nothing to do, I wanted to do just that. Nothing.

Maybe I'll have a life after I graduate, I mused as I stepped out of the restaurant and into the midday sun. The leaves were just starting to change from emerald green to bold shades of red, orange, and yellow, their transformation hinting at the onset of fall. I had always enjoyed the season as a child with the cider, pumpkin carving, and the promise of free candy on the last day of October. I took in another deep breath of the pre-autumn air before returning to the restaurant, my backpack in hand.

I stowed away into a corner of the building where no one would bother me and took out my notes from my professor's previous lecture as well as my iPad where the lecture was recorded. I placed my ear buds in and pressed the "play" button on the audio. Pride sat in as I listened to my professor's voice and skimmed my notes; they matched perfectly.

My best friend, Kenna, constantly made fun of my study habits. "Tay, you're an art major. How much work goes into that? I mean, do you really need to study?"

"Well," I would begin, "art is important for a number of reasons, but let's use one that's applicable to you. You color your hair every two weeks or so, right?"

"Yeah," she would say with a slight hesitation.

"Does your stylist ever say, 'hey, we're going to go blonde today'?"

"God, no! I'd look awful as a blonde!"

"Exactly. Color theory-which plays a major role in art-keeps you from looking like the new Amanda Bynes...get the picture?" She would nod with fervor and mutter her apologies.

"Something funny in that notebook of yours?"

My head snapped up to find a man staring at me, a smirk on his inhumanly gorgeous face. I removed my ear buds before speaking to him. "No. I was just remembering something funny," I don't know why I bothered explaining my laughter to this beautiful stranger, but I blabbed on anyway. "My friend thought that I studied too much for an art major, but I helped her in realizing that artists are needed in this world as much as anyone else, and that causes us to have to study, just like everyone else."

The man scooted into my booth and sat down in one fluid motion. I've seen people move like that before. The dancers at my school. "Art major, you say? What do you plan on doing with that degree?"

"Becoming an artist, owning my own gallery. Stuff like that. What's it to you anyways?"

"I really have no idea," he whispered. I didn't think I was meant to hear it.

"Well, if you don't mind, I kinda have to get back to studying."

"No you don't. You still have to eat, and your lunch isn't over yet."

My entire body chilled and heated simultaneously. How was that even anatomically possible? "How did you know that? Have you been watching me or something?"

"I was in the restaurant when your manager asked you to stay. I wanted to come say hi," he shrugged as if this was totally normal.

"I've gotta tell you, Mr...?"

"Andros. Damian Andros."

"Well then, Damian Andros, you're kinda creepy." In a hot guy watching me type of way.

"Does my presence frighten you?" His lips pulled into a frown and his eyes lost some of their light.

"I'm not really afraid of you. Just wondering why you're creepin' on me."

"My intention is not to creep, but to strike up conversation."

"Well, my intention is to study. Not to sit here and talk to strangers."

He sat looking at me for an immeasurable amount of time. It made me squirm in my seat and my flesh heat in a delicious way.

"Taylor, here's that food you demanded," Tony said dropping some boneless wings and fries off at my table and getting an eyeful of Mr. Sexy and Dangerous. "You have about thirty-five more minutes before you get back on the clock. Don't be late."

"Okay," I said hesitantly, thrown off by his change of mood.

"Your boss wants to fuck you."

I dropped the French fry that I was holding. "Excuse me?"

"Oh, come on, look at the sap! As soon as he saw me, he got all formal and angry." Damian drew his shoulders up tight and puckered his lips before saying, "'You have about thirty-five minutes. Don't be late'."

I laughed freely at Damian's impression of Tony. It was spot on. "That doesn't really explain him wanting to have sex with me," I shook my head.

"There's an air about him. He even smells like he wants you." I was about to ask what he meant, but he kept talking. "Your car is mysteriously going to start having trouble tonight, and guess who's going to be there to save the day? He'll offer to give you a ride home-which you should refuse-but you won't. He'll say how grateful he is that you covered Amanda's shift and then he'll sweet talk you some more until he feels that he has you right where he wants you and then he'll make his move. You won't be receptive because you don't find him attractive in any type of way, and he won't take kindly to that because throughout his entire shift tonight, he's been tipping liquor into his soft drinks. I guess you can see where it goes from there."

My mind sat at a standstill for what seemed like minutes. Was this man out of his mind, or did he really predict that I was getting raped tonight?

"I would start looking for another job if I were you. Unless you want me to kill him," Damian shrugged.

"Are you kidding me?" I whispered harshly. "You tell me that I'm gonna get raped tonight and then you just offer to kill a man so I don't have to look for another job? Are you mentally ill?"

He laughed, "I've been around long enough to be aware of things that go unnoticed by the...unpracticed layperson," he smirked at this. "And killing people that deserve it is in my line of work, honey."

"What are you, some type of Italian hit man? You part of the mob?"

"Italian? Good God! I'm Greek. From Athens originally. Andros? Remember? And to answer your silly question, I'm neither part of the mob, nor a hit man. But I could take both parties out in the blink of an eye." His blue eyes flashed wickedly. I thought I saw a spark of yellow, but it was too fast to be certain. "And I never said that you would end up getting raped. I did, however, say that he would try."

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" I asked, my temper flaring.

"As a matter of fact, I do. But I thought that meeting you was more important."

Despite his grisly prediction for the next few hours of my life, my heart began to warm at his words. I tried to play it off, but something told me it was useless. His blue eyes assessed me as I assessed him. It was heady, looking at someone of such beauty; Damian looked like he popped out of an H&M magazine with his square jaw, pouty lips, and bright eyes. And his hair! I wanted to run my hands through the black tresses that almost reached the collar of his leather jacket.

"My sunglasses would get in the way," he grinned, not looking away from my eyes.

"What?!" I looked up to the crown of his head and sure enough, there sat a pair of aviators.

"I've been around a long time," he told me by way of explanation.

"Do you do this on a regular basis?"

"Do what?"

"Stalk innocent women at their jobs, predict their rape, and somehow read their minds?"

"So you do want to ravage my lips?" He grinned.

"How old are you?"

"Old enough to be your grandfather's great, great, great grandfather," he laughed as if this were the funniest thing in the world.

"I don't believe you."

"Yeah, I know. And it's quite amusing."

I scowled at my uneaten food. "I haven't even known you for an hour and you've irritated me more than any other person on the planet."

"How could that possibly be true? You don't know every other person on the planet."

"Gah! You're so cocky!"

"You have no idea," he grinned and I stuck my tongue out in disgust.

"And a pervert. Great."

"Not as perverted as your boss. Who is on his way to check on you now. Four, three, two,-"

"Taylor. You're still sitting here? You have like five minutes. Hurry it up!" Tony said, not taking his eyes off of Damian.

"Alright, I get it," I said, my mind reeling. It was just a lucky guess. Damian probably saw him coming and made a show of it. The jerk.

Tony huffed and walked back to wherever it was he came from.

"Man, he wants you so bad."

"Ugh, whatever, Damian." The way his name rolled off of my tongue made my insides quiver.

"You don't believe me but it's so obvious. Of all nine or so waiters and waitresses here, he asks you to stay late. Don't you find that to be a little odd?"

"No," I lied.

His hand made its way to his mouth, his long fingers splayed across his lips as he nodded. "Well, your boss wants you back, and I have business to attend to. I'm sure we'll see each other again. Very soon," he said, scooting out of the booth and walking out of the building without a backwards glance.

I took a moment to catch my breath before packing up my belongings and running out to my car. I hoped to catch a glimpse of Damian outside, but he was already gone. When I returned to work, I was met head on by Tony.

"Who was that guy?"

"Just some customer that wanted to say hi or something. I didn't really know him." Tony relaxed some at this news.

The rest of my shift was spent thinking of Damian and trying not to think of Damian. His blue eyes kept parading in my brain, making it foggy, keeping me from focusing. Once I caught myself writing "blue eyes" on a ticket instead of "extra ice." The color red crept up my cheeks as I scribbled out the offending words.

I've never been so bothered by a man in my life. It was unsettling. I mean, I'd had a couple of boyfriends in the past, but they weren't like Damian. They were the kind, moral-based jock type. Kind of like Tim Tebow in a way; Damian was on a whole different level. Even the way he held himself without speaking made shivers run up and down my spine. The man was sexuality and danger in the flesh.

I'm sure we'll see each other again. Very soon. What the heck did that even mean? Did I want to see him again? My heart answered before my mind-YES! I needed to figure this man out, no matter how creepy he appeared. It was only fair; he seemed to have me all figured out. The thought made me scowl.

"Taylor? You okay?" I heard Tony ask somewhere in the distance.

"What? Oh, yeah," I said, placing my bills on the table. "Here's what I did in tips tonight," I handed him my tally sheet, happy to be leaving the restaurant for the time being.

He whistled loudly. "Not bad for a Friday night. A little over two hundred and fifty."

"Yeah, at least I'll have a place to lay my head," I joked. I didn't have to pay rent since Kenna's parents already paid four years' worth in advance. They didn't want her to work while attending college; they called the apartment Kenna's "congratulations for getting into a university and out of our house" gift. I paid my way by helping cover the utilities-which was next to nothing.

"See ya tomorrow," I said, making my way out of the restaurant. The autumn air engulfed me as I made a beeline for my car. I kept peeking over my shoulder with every step, not able to shake the feeling that I was being watched. From my earlier conversation with a certain blue-eyed hottie, I couldn't rule out the possibility.

I unlocked the car and put my key in the ignition. I turned the key...nothing happened. I tried again to get the same result. My heart raced like a Kentucky Derby champion. "Damn Damian Andros," I cursed as my head hit my headrest. A thought occurred to me. He did this to my car! He wanted to prove a point, so he did something to my car! The little turd!

"Everything alright, Taylor?" Tony asked, making me jump.

"Yeah, well...no," I said. "My car won't start."

"Oh no," he said, his eyebrows going theatrically high. "Do you need a ride?"

"I don't know. I'm going to call my roommate and see if she's up." I dug through my purse, producing my iPhone and scrolling through my recent calls. I found her name and clicked on it.

"Hey, Tay-Tay!"

I groaned. I knew that voice. It was the "I'm at a party and most likely drunk" voice. "Hey, Kenna," I said deadpan. "Where are you?"

"At a party," she hiccupped then laughed.

"Great. Do you need a ride?" Even if she didn't I was going to rope Tony into taking us home.

"Uh, I dunno. Maybe."

"Tell me where you are, and I'll be there in a few." She gave me the address and I hung up. I hated being her babysitter. I gathered all of my important things and locked up my car. "It looks like I'm going to need a ride to Willis Street. My roommate got trashed at some party and needs a ride."

"Willis Street by the Notre Dame campus? Okay," Tony said, his voice not as enthused as it was earlier. I tried to put it out of my mind, especially knowing that Damian was the reason behind my malfunctioning vehicle and not some lame rape prediction.

Just wait until I see him again.

The ride was mostly silent besides Tony asking me questions about school every so often. I was glad that it stayed to not so personal topics. When we pulled into the newly built student apartments on the corner of Willis Street, I started to relax. "I'll go grab her and be right back."

"Hold on just a minute," he said to me. "I wanted to thank you for covering Amanda's ass today. She's on her last leg at the restaurant, you know?"

"It was no problem. Like you said, I needed the tips." I reached for the door handle but he stopped me.

"No, I mean, I really appreciate it," he rubbed his hand up and down my arm. I tensed while my heart took off at warp speed and my skin began to crawl. "You always cover when I need you to," he began to creep closer to me, and there it was. The smell of alcohol.

Reality hit me in the chest like a ton of bricks. Damian had nothing to do with my car not starting...it was Tony. He was behind all of this. Damian was right.

"You're always so reliable. Dependable. I'm glad you came to work for me."

"Yep," I said, trying to reach for the car door handle again. This time he locked it. "Tony, Kenna is inside waiting for me. She's drunk, and I have no idea what's going on in there. I need to go." The calm in my voice was surprising and welcome. I had always heard that fear made rapists get even more turned on; I would not give Tony the satisfaction.

"Not just yet. You know I've been watching you for a while," his eyes raked over me and I had to resist the urge to vomit. "I think we should hook up," he said, grabbing my face and sticking his tongue down my throat.

"Ugh, get off of me!" I yelled, hoping it would clear the alcohol that clouded his brain.

"Don't be like that, Taylor. I know you want me too," he wrapped his arm around my neck, holding his mouth to mine as his other hand snaked its way down my shirt and into my bra. I had no idea drunk men could be so strong.

"Tony, get the fuck off of me!" I bit his arm and fumbled to unlock the door. I just about had it when his arm made its way around my neck again, putting me in a choke hold. His other hand shot down my pants, trying to reach my warmth. "Get off of me!"

"You know you want this, Taylor. I see the way you look at me. Stop playing hard to get and give me that pussy," he said into my ear.

I kicked and screamed, hoping that someone would hear and find me. He almost was able to get his finger into me before something heavy dropped onto the hood of the car. We both looked up, him shaken, and me grateful. I made quick work of the lock and exited the car. I should have ran to the closest apartment, but I couldn't get my legs to move much further than the lawn next to where Tony's car was parked.

I looked up, seeing the outline of a man standing on the car's hood. There were yellow dots where eyes should've been. "What the fuck?" I heard Tony holler as the figure put his fist through the windshield, dragging him out of the car.

"I could ask you the same question."

That voice. I knew it was too soon to recognize it, but I did. It was him.

"Please man, just let me go. I'll do anything."

"Let you go," Damian said before hopping off of the car. He moved with unnatural grace as he hauled around Tony's weight as if he were a mere rag doll. "You want me to let you go?" he said, as he walked, impossibly fast to where I was sitting on the ground. "Look at this girl! You were going to rape her, and you want me to let you go?!" he roared into the cool night air.

"Please, man! Please," Tony croaked as Damian lifted him into the air with ease, Tony's feet dangled below him.

"I'm not letting you go. I'm actually going to kill you."

"Kill him?" I found my voice. "Why?"

Damian turned to me, his voice full of incredulity, his eyes fiercely yellow. "This man almost stole your virginity, Taylor. Stole it. You didn't offer it."

"How'd you know that I'm a virgin?"

"That's what you're worried about?" Damian began to laugh, "You were just about to be raped in that piece of shit car, and all you can think about is how I knew you were a virgin?" he continued to laugh as he held Tony in the air by his throat. "God, you're a different breed of woman."

"A virgin? Oh God! I'm so sorry, please let me go! I'll never do it again!" Tony struggled as he tried to remove Damian's hands from around his neck.

Damian's eyes flashed yellow again as he looked at Tony. "Shut the fuck up."

"Just let him go," I told Damian.

"You don't want me to kill him?" Damian seemed disappointed by this news.

"No. Let him live with the guilt and shame. Death would be a little too easy."

Damian nodded. "You're more reasonable than I would ever be." He dropped Tony who fell to the ground gasping and wheezing. "Get the fuck out of here. And if I ever catch you within a two hundred foot radius of Taylor, I will kill you. With or without her consent."


We Are the Day Ch. 02



Hello, all! I'd just like to say thank you to everyone that took the time to vote and give feedback on the first installment of We Are the Day! I was super nervous about putting it out there for people to read, and I was ecstatic that so many had positive things to say. This was my first stab at erotic literature, and posting in this type of forum for that matter...But enough jibber jabber...here's chapter two. Enjoy!!! ;)

-CrackedChaos

Chapter Two

"Kenna, you up?" I knocked gently on my best friend's door. 

No answer. 

"Ken," I said as I walked into her bedroom. I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that she was sprawled out on her bed. She looked at peace, the complete opposite of what I was feeling. I shut her door, the click reverberating through the entire apartment. It was so still and silent, it was almost scary; especially being coupled with last night's events. 

Pictures flashed back to me in spurts: Tony reaching down my bra, Damian on Tony's car, Kenna looking half dead in the bathtub...then there were memories of Damian and my time at the apartment. Heat flooded through my body at the remembrance of how his lips suckled mine, how his tongue felt against mine, how he sucked blood from my punctured lip. My fingers trailed over my bottom lip and I quickly assessed them. 

"Were you planning on finding more blood?"

My hand cupped my mouth as I jumped backwards. Damian Andros was sitting pretty on my bed. I shut the door to my bedroom and waited for my heart to calm before responding to him. "What are you doing here? Better yet, how'd you get in here?"

His face looked troubled as he answered. "I drove your car here, then I just walked in. You girls should lock the door. What if I was a murderer, or burglar or something?"

"Why are you here?"

"I wanted to return your car, and...I wanted to apologize for last night."

"What happened last night? Why did you...do that?" I couldn't bring myself to say the act out loud. 

His expression was pained as he looked at me, but he didn't speak. From the way his brow furrowed and flattened, I could tell he was debating on telling me something. I took the opportunity to get my clothes around for the day. 

"What are you doing with this?" he asked, picking up my Bar Louie t-shirt. 

"I'm scheduled to work today."

He blew out a quick gust of air. "Like fuck you're going to Bar Louie after what that  guy-,"

"Will you be quiet? Kenna's still asleep!" I hissed.

His eyes flashed yellow. "You're not going back until I fix the situation."

"Fix the situation? I don't need you to fix anything!"

"You're not going in today. Matter of fact, you won't be going back ever."

My cheeks heated as my eyes drew tight. "You can't tell me where I can or can't go to work! I need the money, and you can't stop me!" As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew that they were completely false. Anyone that can punch the windshield out of a car and carry a grown man by his neck without so much as a scratch or bead of sweat could definitely hold a little blonde girl of barely one hundred and twenty pounds captive. Damian knew this, and made it known by the smirk on his face. 

"Do you remember anything from last night? I recall telling the man that if I caught him within a two hundred foot radius of you, I'd kill him. Now, my word has always been my bond, Taylor. Do you want me to kill Tony?"

"No," I sounded like a sulky teenager.

"Well good. No work until I figure out a plan," he smiled, clapping his hands together once and standing up. 

"What happened last night, Damian?" I asked when he was inches away from me. 

"I'm still trying to figure it out."

"Oh come on!" I was not in the mood for games. "You suck my blood and don't even offer an explanation as to why?"

He flinched but carried on in his rushed, angry tone. "To tell you why would be a prelude to me telling you things you are not ready to know yet."

"Fine," I huffed, throwing my door open and leaving the room. I felt foolish, fleeing my own bedroom, but he gave me no choice. He was being so stubborn. I turned the corner of the hallway to find Damian leaning against the kitchen counter, waiting for me. 

"Taylor. Don't be like this. I'm just trying to protect you."

"From what?"

"The world! Everything out there is not what it seems. There's a whole entire world out there that you can scarcely understand or even begin to survive in."

"Then why did you show up at my job, pestering me? You should've just left me alone if that was the case!" my throat was starting to hurt from all of the intense whispering. 

"I can't leave you alone, Taylor! I have been for too long. Shit. Look at this," he passed his hands over the gray beanie that hung off the back of his head. I was sure that if it weren't present, his hands would be in his hair, signaling his frustration. "You always drag too much information out of me," he said as he began to pace in the kitchen. 

I knew that I was supposed to be mad at him, but the way his muscles moved under the gray material of his hoodie as he passed his hands over his head had me squirming with need. His dark wash jeans moved with him in ways that should be some type of sin against God. He turned to me, his eyes flickering specs of yellow. "You like what you see?" he sounded surprised. 

"No," I lied. 

He found that amusing. "You know I can read you like a book, Taylor. Remember that."

Come kiss me then, I challenged before thinking.

His lips were on mine before I had time to even react to him leaving the kitchen. His tongue invaded my mouth, taking turns licking at my lips and tongue. Too soon he released me. "I can't be without you, Taylor. I can't do it anymore. Spend the day with me. Please. I'll tell you what I am, but I just," he huffed in frustration before making a steeple of his hands in front of his pouty lips. "I just want you to see me as a person for a little while longer...before you know the truth. I don't want you to see me as a monster."

"I could never see you as a monster, Damian." I knew as soon as the words left my lips that they were true. How could this man with his angelic features be anything but angelic? The man that saved me from a grisly fate last night could never be a monster in my eyes, no matter what he said or did. Although I'd known Damian for less than twenty four hours, I felt a connection to him that I hadn't found yet with any other person; so, if he was a monster, I guess that made me one too. 

His eyes locked with mine, his gaze was unwavering. My guess was that he was reading my thoughts again. Pulling me into an embrace he whispered, "I wish I would've found you sooner. Please, Taylor. Spend the day with me. We can do whatever you want. After you eat, that is."

"What?"

"You haven't eaten since those couple of French fries on your lunch break yesterday. Get dressed. I'll be waiting outside. I have a couple of calls to make." He planted a gentle kiss on my lips before moving out of the apartment with inhuman speed.

I spent too much time in my closet, finding nothing suitable to wear besides a pair of white Toms. Tearing through my dresser drawers, I found an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of skinny jeans. I dressed quickly before running to the bathroom to brush my teeth and fix my hair. Kenna was still sleeping when I was ready to leave, so I scrawled her a quick note and left it on the dining room table. 

I locked up the apartment and turned to find Damian sitting on the hood of a white, 2013 Lincoln MKZ. I think I drooled. "Is it okay if we ride in this car? I don't like to be chauffeured."

I climbed into the car, the smell of leather and cleaner hit me square in the face. "This is new?"

"It is. I thought that you might like it," he shrugged although his eyes hinted at deeper emotion. 

"You want me to have this?" I squeaked.

"Would you take it if I offered it to you?"

"No. It's too much, and we barely even know each other. Who buys a car for a girl they just met yesterday?"

"I do. Besides, that fucker Tony messed your car up so bad that even with regular maintenance, it'll probably only run for about two more months."

"I'll just drive it until it gives out."

"And then you'll call me as soon as it does."

Damian took me to the little nautical themed diner, Tradewinds, for lunch, much to my surprise. It seemed down scale for someone that could buy a brand new car on a whim, but he insisted that he frequented the restaurant. The mall was our next stopping point; I figured I could put my tip money from the previous night to use. 

"Maybe now it won't take me forever to find something to wear," I mused while the cashier at Tilly's rung up my findings. 

"Maybe, maybe not," Damian smirked. "You have tons of clothes, Taylor. You were just trying to find the perfect outfit so as to impress me."

"No," my face heated, giving away my lie. "I just didn't feel right in anything I put on."

"Sure," he said, setting a couple pairs of jeans on the counter and producing a black card from his wallet. "These are together," he said to the cashier. 

"No they're not. You're not paying for my clothes."

"Yeah, I am. Here," he handed his card to the cashier that looked like he would rather be anywhere than behind the register. "Women don't pay for anything in my presence. Sorry if that's a little old school for you, but there it is."

This argument continued into every store I made a purchase at that day, even the coffee shop. "If you pull your wallet out one more time," he said, his eyes beginning to turn from blue to yellow. My breath left me as my head whipped from side to side. It appeared that no one had seen the color change besides me, but he popped a pair of aviators on anyways. 

We arrived back at my apartment a little after seven that night to find Kenna gone. I sighed heavily as I read her note. "She went to another party."

"You worry about her," Damian said, his voice soft. 

"Of course I do. She can't handle her drink, she's been this way since high school. One of these days something bad is going to happen to her and I'm not gonna be able to save her," I sagged into the couch, while sending Kenna a text telling her not to drink too much. I knew she wouldn't listen, but it was worth a shot. "Are you ready to go home?" I asked, my head in my hands.

"Not unless you want me to leave."

"I thought we could order pizza and watch some movies or something," I shrugged, hoping to feign nonchalance. 

I let Damian pick the movies that he wanted to watch, hoping that he would be distracted enough not to listen to my thoughts. I needed to assess our day together, and try to figure out what he was. Nothing was adding up anymore.

After his blood drinking last night, I had given him the label of "vampire", but after seeing him in the sun with no visible side-affects, I rethought that theory. There was also the lunch and dinner issue. He ate a bacon cheeseburger and fries at lunch; even as I sat debating his nature he was stuffing a slice of pepperoni pizza down his throat. Werewolf was my next option, but that was quickly extinguished as I peeped a full moon through the window. 

Well, maybe he's not a traditional Were. He could be like one of those shape shifter things like in Twilight.

"Twilight? Really?" Damian said as he clicked off the television and turned to face me. "Of all the nonsense-,"

"Well you didn't offer any insight, so I'm just going with my best guess."

He sighed as he passed his hand over his eyes. "I'm a vampire, Taylor. But you already knew that."

I let go of the breath that I was unconsciously holding before responding. "No you're not."

He laughed. "Really? What else do you call a man-like creature that drinks blood?"

"You go out in the daytime and it doesn't hurt you, make your skin throw rainbows in the sun, and you don't catch fire. You eat like a horse. What am I supposed to think?"

He pondered this. "Well, I can see your confusion. I have been this way for quite some time, and I've only been around people that are like me. I'm really old-like really, really old; so I can do certain things that would seem strange for a regular vampire." 

"How old?"

He sighed as the yellow in his eyes took over the blue. "I was one of the Firsts."

"The first vampires? How did that happen?" My mind was taking off at warp speed, trying to wrap my head around how that could even be true. It was like trying to solve the chicken and egg riddle. All of the pieces were there, I just couldn't make them fit.

"Back in the days when angels and demons walked openly among men, I was out trying to gather food for my family. My father had grown elderly and frail, so I was considered the man of the house. My family needed food, and I was the only one able to go. We had always been told never to wonder the woods at night, but I wouldn't leave my family to suffer in their hunger. I had my kill, ready to return home when I ran into a man possessed by a demon. He bit me, and it led to this," he motioned to his body. "Possessions of such kinds are borderline extinct today, but there are those of us that continue to make more vampires."

"You said, 'fallen angel'. Is that as in the one-third of heavenly hosts?"

"The very same."

"Well, why'd he bite you?"

"I have two theories. The first is that he did it out of anger. Being cast out of heaven is a pretty big deal. The second theory is that he was just looking for a good time," Damian shrugged before continuing. "After my transformation, I tried to find the man that bit me but he died shortly after the Fallen left his body. Looking back, I'm glad he died. I probably would've snapped his neck were he still alive."

My brain felt disconnected from everything. I wasn't sure how long I sat in silence, but I noticed movement in my peripherals that brought me back to the present. 

"Where are you going?"

"Away. I can see that you don't want my company anymore. I can understand that."

"No, I never said that!"

"But you-,"

"I wasn't thinking it either, you know that. Come back here."

His eyes softened as he took a seat next to me on the couch. "Forgive me, Taylor. I'm just used to so many people running from me," he shook his head. "I knew you were different, but this brings it to a whole new level." 

"People ran from you? Who?" I couldn't imagine anyone not wanting to be around Damian. I had only known him for a day and already craved more of his company.

"My family, my country. All of the Firsts were exiled after they found out what we were. We couldn't return home for decades. That's the main reason that we try to keep our existence a secret. If people find out what we are, we lose our families and friends. We really aren't solitary creatures as some stories suggest," he leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes. "During our exile is when the legends began. Some of the Firsts were angry about being forced to leave Greece and caused a massive uproar. They were feeding in the streets, killing public officials...I can still hear the screams sometimes. It was pandemonium. We had to kill the ones that were causing all the mayhem, so we slit their throats. Little did we know, it takes more than that to kill a vamp," he sighed. 

I shuddered. "So, they're still out there somewhere?"

"No. We locked them up ages ago. We were just surprised as hell when we heard them banging around in their tombs."

"There's something I don't get."

"Hmm," he said dreamily, as his hands sifted through my hair.

"After you were bitten, how did you know what happened to you? There wasn't any reference point to look back on."

"The transformation made me wish that I was dead. As soon as that man's teeth broke my skin, it felt like I was being stabbed with butcher's knives all over my body, repeatedly. It was one of the worst experiences of my life, and death, but the entire time, I could feel myself getting stronger; when I jerked and writhed, it was with amazing speed. I could see more clearly, hear things further away, smell things that were even further. I knew I wasn't human anymore. 

"When the transformation was over, I left the woods where I had been bitten. I just wanted to go home and see my family. On the way, I ran into a bear, and I thirsted. My throat constricted and I felt my eyes burn, even my gums burned. Without thinking, I launched myself at the bear, I drunk every ounce of his blood and threw the carcass in the river. I bled a few fish dry after that, too. I went home to my family, they noticed the changes immediately. My eyes were yellow, I moved too fast and too gracefully. It was too soon for me to learn how to control my vampire nature. It took them days to call me out, though. They were battling with who I was and what I had become. My parents didn't want to lose their son, my little brother thought I had become one of the Gods...my sisters wouldn't be in the same room with me," he sighed heavily as the blue in his eyes began to dull. One night my thirst overtook me, and I fed on one of my father's goats. It was a noisy business; I know now that I should've snapped its neck before feeding to keep it quiet."

I gasped and shuddered. Would I ever become comfortable with his casualness towards killing?

He continued, not missing a beat. "They called me a demon and told me to leave the house. What other choice did I have? I couldn't risk their lives by staying around," he shrugged while looking down at me. "And I would have...risked their lives, I mean. I could feel the heat coming off of their skin in waves, I could see the pulse in their necks," he said while trailing his finger up and down my own neck. "I would've killed them all one by one, so I fled. I found others of my kind traveling by night-they were the other Firsts. We became a family of our own and decided it best to live in secret. We became Children of the Night, because at the time, we couldn't come out during the day."

"How is it now that you can come out during the day?"

"Years of practice," he grinned. "It hurt like hell, but in the end it was worth it. You never realize how much you miss the sun until you can't look at it. All of the Firsts are Daywalkers now, but we each have different special abilities that make us unique; not just walking out in the sun."

"Like mind reading?"

"No. Mind reading is not uncommon. It's more of a predatory type of gift that all of us have to be able to catch our prey. Some of us conduct electricity, some of us influence the elements...there are really too many to name."

"What's your gift?"

"I'm what our kind refers to as a Caller. If I want an object, I just Call for it."

"Can I see?" 

He rolled his eyes as a bottle of Mountain Dew hovered in front of my face. I gasped as he grabbed it. 

"Jerk. You like scaring me."

"I like scaring people in general."

"I have another question."

He groaned, "What?"

"Why me? Why are you telling me all of this and showing me these things?"

"No."

"What?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"It's too soon. You've already drug too much out of me already."

"Oh come on! That's not fair! I have a right to know."

"In time you do, but right now, no. I can't afford to scare you off."

"Damian," I tried to muster up the best soothing tone that I could, "if you telling me that you're a vampire didn't scare me off, I'm not sure what will. Just tell me," I said, running my hand over his thigh. He caught it before bringing it to his lips and kissing it. "Not tonight."

"But-,"

"No," he said, taking one of my fingers into his mouth and lightly suckling. It was an action that I felt echoed down in my groin. My lips produced a heady gasp-moan combination.

"Please?" I muttered, trying to clear my brain of the sexual haze that it was trapped in. How could an action as simple as sucking my finger turn me on so quickly?




We Are the Day Ch. 02



He took my finger out of his mouth, "No." 

His lips traveled down my neck, over my pulse. "Why not?" God, this was embarrassing; my voice was all heavy and breathy. His tongue lightly trailed from the base of my neck to my earlobe where he suckled. I moaned loudly as my thighs pressed together.

"You keep begging me and making sounds like that, love, you're going to be laying beneath me, naked."

His words fanned the flame of my newly found libido, making me leave my position next to him in favor of straddling his body. My lips met his with an intensity that almost frightened me. I pushed his hat off his head and ran my fingers through his hair as my tongue invaded his mouth. Damian groaned beneath me as his hands trapped my hips. 

"Don't move like that, Taylor," he hissed. 

I continued to grind my hips on his thickening ridge anyway. It felt so good, I couldn't bring myself to stop. I needed him. I needed more. 

"Damn it, Taylor," he said, flipping me around so that I was no longer facing him. He had my pants down in record time. "Is this what you want?" he whispered seductively. "You want me to touch you like this?" he asked as he palmed my mound. "Open your eyes."

I did as he asked, seeing our reflections in the television. I hardly recognized myself as the wanton creature that was spread wide open on the lap of the most attractive being on the planet. My skin was flushed, my eyes wild and bright. 

"Look at me. I want to see you when I make you come," Damian said as he continued to rub my mound. My eyes met his in the television screen; they were yellow. "Look at you, Taylor; so hot for me. I want you so bad."

"Then take me."

He produced a growl-like sound before easing a finger into my warmth. "You don't even know what you're asking." He worked his finger in and out of me as I groaned in pleasure. "So tight," he moaned into my ear. I shuddered. 

His skilled ministrations were taking me higher and higher, I knew that at one point I was going to reach the peak and fall over the edge. I looked forward to it. Working my hips in time with the thrust of his fingers, I was well on my way to release. "Oh, God. Damian."

"Eyes open," he ground out as he began to work my clit in earnest. 

"Oh God!" I cried out as my orgasm rocked through my body, rendering everything else null and void. Damian's eyes glowed in the television like I had never seen before. With speed that could only be vampiric, he swept me up into his arms, carried me to my bed and began to dive into my pussy. I cried out in ecstasy as his mouth toyed with my clit. 

"That's right, baby. Feel it for me," he said before ripping my sweatshirt right down the middle. He looked at my bra as if it were an unwelcome house guest and shredded it as well. "Fucking bra," he said before latching onto my nipple. I convulsed as he took it between his teeth, beginning to lick it. He then moved to the other nipple, giving it equal attention before kissing and suckling his way to the apex of my thighs. 

"Damian," I groaned. 

"Oh, I love when you say my name, baby."

He licked and sucked my clit showing no mercy and I felt my second orgasm building. "Open those eyes, Taylor. Look at me." His coaxing, sexual voice mixed with the glowing carnality of his eyes had me coming so hard tears sprang out of my eyes. 

"Oh man," I groaned after coming down from my high. If this is what being with a vampire is like, sign me up!

"Consider yourself enlisted," Damian said, getting up from the bed, making his way to my dresser. 

"What are you doing?"

"Getting you some pajamas. Sorry I dismantled your clothes."

"We're not going to have sex?"

He turned around and looked at me, his eyes halfway back to being blue again. "Taylor, neither one of us is ready for that. Now put these on and go to bed."

"You're so bossy."

"Yeah, well, it comes with old age."

After Damian pulled me into his chest and wrapped me in my blanket, I knew I wouldn't last long. Who knew receiving pleasure could make a person so sleepy? My mind trudged through the day, taking an inventory of all that I accomplished. I had blown off a shift at Bar Louie and went shopping instead; I spent the day with one of the most attractive men I've ever seen. I was worked over by the tongue and fingers of a man that wasn't really a man, but a vampire. Somehow, I was okay with that. I knew that Damian wouldn't hurt me-he seemed like he had genuine feelings for me. I knew that I was in too deep, too soon, but I didn't care. Something clicked in me when I met Damian, and I wanted to see where this led to. I was strapped up, and ready for the ride.



We Are the Day Ch. 03



Once again, I send special thanks to everyone that took the time to comment and rate my stories! The positive feedback has encouraged me to keep pushing for the completion of Damian and Taylor's tale. Hope you all enjoy this latest installment of WATD! 

Much love 

CC

Chapter Three

"Where have you been the last few nights?" Kenna asked as we sat down in front of the television. Tonight, as declared by Kenna, was to be a Chinese takeout and movie night, so I was without Damian for the first night in a week. 

"I've just been out. I find myself wandering around aimlessly now that I don't have a job." This was mostly the truth. I did find myself wandering around, but not so aimlessly; I wandered around with Damian. We would eat out sometimes, other times we would venture to the movies, and other times we'd make out like high school kids in one of his expensive cars. 

"Whatever, Taylor. Who's the dude?"

"What dude?" I asked, picking up a piece of sesame chicken with my fork. 

"Tay, we've been friends since we knew what 'friend' meant. I know you're seeing someone," she said, putting her takeout box down. "So, who is he?"

I sighed. One of the worst things about having a friend that was like a sister, they always knew when something was up. "His name is Damian. What movie do you want to watch?" 

"Twilight marathon?"

"No!" I backpedaled as I registered the expression on Kenna's face. "It's just that we watch it so much. How about Pride and Prejudice?"

"Colin Firth or Keira Knightley?"

"Always Colin Firth," I said with a smile. 

"Does he remind you of this Damian character?"

I groaned. "Do you ever give up?"

"You know me better than that."

"Damian is tall, dark, and handsome. Except the word 'handsome' is an understatement."

"Oh," she sighed. "Tell me more! He sounds dreamy."

"He's more than dreamy. He's like a mythical creature," I grinned and almost laughed out loud. 

"Well, how did you meet? How old is he? Does he have a brother that would like to date me?"

I laughed. "We met at Bar Louie, and I'm not sure about the brother. I'll ask." I purposefully glossed over the age question. How would I even answer that? Um, he's a few thousand years old. Yeah...that'd go over well. 

The movie had started minutes ago, but Kenna was still firing questions at me. I was beginning to get annoyed. "Tay, why are you being so tight-lipped?" Kenna pouted. 

"I don't have much to say. We only met a little over a week ago, Ken. It's not like he's told me his whole life story yet." Again, I found myself if another half-truth. Damian and I had known each other for only a little over a week, but we knew each other like the back of our hands. Sometimes, I felt like I was reading Damian's mind just as well as he read mine. 

"Well, I'm gonna need you to figure all of this out and report back to me. Not knowing the guy who's stolen my best friend's heart is kind of frustrating."

"Yeah, yeah." To be honest, I wasn't sure if Kenna could ever meet Damian. Yes, she was my best friend, but to bring her into close proximity of a vampire didn't seem like the best idea. 

"You think that I'd hurt Kenna?" Damian asked me that night after he snuck into my bedroom. It was sad how we couldn't be without each other for more than a few hours.

"No. I didn't say or think that. Kenna is just...different. She always wants to live on the edge and do things that are racy, but when real danger creeps up, she freaks out. I'm not sure how she'd react to all of this."

He nodded, scooping me into his arms. "We'll take it slow, then. I don't want you to lose your best friend because of me."

"We don't really need to tell her anyway," I said. "I mean, you're old enough to control your thirst and things. Maybe we could just keep her out of the loop."

"Yeah," Damian said, his voice was unenthusiastic. 

"You don't think that it will work?"

"For now, it might."

"What does that even mean?"

"Not tonight, Taylor."

"That's your answer for everything. Maybe I want to know tonight."

"Well, it's not time yet."

"What if I die in my sleep and you never get to tell me all of the things that you're hiding from me?"

"You're healthy. It's highly unlikely that'd happen."

I rolled onto my side, facing away from Damian. "I don't want to be with someone that can't and won't tell me the truth. I feel like you're hiding something from me." 

"I am hiding something," he chuckled. "That's the point. I'm hiding something that I don't want you to know yet."

"Whatever, Damian. This isn't going to work."

"You think that you could leave me, Taylor? You're as attached as I am, and I would stalk you until you agreed to take me back if you did somehow leave me."

I wasn't in the mood for Damian's games tonight. I huffed angrily while trying to shake him off me. It was the same as trying to move a cow; he wasn't budging unless he wanted to. "This isn't funny Damian."

He stilled behind me, his hands growing rigid on my stomach.

"What's wrong?"

"I...I have to go," he muttered. 

"No, I don't want you to leave. I was just upset about you not telling me stuff." God, I sounded pathetic even to myself. How had I become so dependent upon another person's presence...and so quickly? 

"It's not you, Taylor. My family; there's trouble," he said, getting up from my bed. 

"I thought your family-,"

"My clan, Taylor." I could tell he was getting annoyed with me, but I couldn't just let him go; not without knowing what was going on and when I'd see him again. He got up from the bed, putting on his black Stacy Adams with his usual graceful movements. "I may have to leave town for a little. I'm not certain."

"What? Why?" He looked at me, that familiar war in his eyes. "I won't freak, I promise."

He sighed before running both of his hands through his hair. "There may be trouble in Jerusalem," he said. My breath hitched as I caught his meaning. Trouble in Jerusalem meant trouble with the rogue Firsts. Nobody wanted trouble with them. Even though the story of their capture was told to me days ago, it was fresh in my mind.

"So, where are the other Firsts kept? You said you locked them up," I asked Damian one night after we went out to dinner. We were sitting in his car at Battell Park, watching the squirrels gather their last minute nuts and things for hibernation. 

"The Rogues, as we now call them, are kept in the Holy City."

"Jerusalem? Why?"

"Simply because it's a holy place. The holiest, in fact. The Christians, Jews, and Muslims all claim it to have significance in their religions and for that reason, we locked them up there. The faith and belief in a higher power somehow work against the evil that works in the Rogues' hearts," he shrugged. "Of course, my Second, Carter would want to put that theory to test scientifically," he laughed. 

"Well, what about you and the other Firsts, then? Can you not go into Jerusalem or any church or anything? "

"No, we can. I've been to church numerous times."

"I'm confused."

He laughed, "I know. And it's so cute to watch. Your lower lip juts out as you try to piece things together."

"Oh, shut up."

"Hey, I said it was cute!" He continued to laugh. "Look. I'm still trying to figure it out," he told me once he had sobered up. "By all records, vampires are a damned group of people. I don't believe that. I spent plenty of time with Jesus and his people back in the day, and he never once condemned us for what we were. How can we have any control over our fate? Did I go out looking to become this?" He motioned to his physique. "No. I was bitten by chance. I believe all of us have an opportunity to make our own choices with what hand we were dealt in life, no matter the circumstance. A child of a drug addict doesn't have to become an addict, too. A person that grew up around an abusive parent doesn't have to grow up to be the same way. The same could be said for us that carry the burden of eternal life. We don't have to be monsters; we don't have to kill people to survive. We don't have to lead a life void of God."

"So you would consider yourself a Christian vampire, then?" I giggled. 

"I guess you could say that; though, I have done a number of things in my life that would earn me a spot in hell."

I shook my head, coming back to the present. There were so many things that could've gone wrong in Jerusalem-shady guards, the Rogues draining rats in their tombs to gain strength. The possibilities had my hands wringing themselves nervously. 

"What happened?" I asked, wiping my now sweaty hands on my pants. 

"How could I know when I'm here with you?"

"You obviously knew something was wrong, so I'm sure whoever was speaking with you mentally has some type of idea," I pushed. 

"I don't give you enough credit. You put things together so quickly for a human," he sighed while sitting on the edge of my bed. "From time to time, the Rogues get restless and stir up trouble in their cells. It's nothing new."

"Your reaction to everything didn't hint at it being old news. Just tell me the truth, Damian."

"Damn it. Someone has been sneaking blood into the cells, okay?"

"What's that even mean?" I ask, undeterred by his frustration.

"It means someone wants the Rogues to rise again, and is helping them do so under our noses. I need to go and find out who, set up surveillance, question people, and probably end some lives."

"Can I go with you?"

"Fuck no!"

I shrank back at the venom in his voice and the glowing yellow of his eyes. 

"I'm sorry, Taylor. I didn't mean it like that. It's just too dangerous. You're human and there are going to be vampires around that have yet to prove their trustworthiness. I can't risk your safety. I will be back as soon as this is taken care of, I promise."

"This is stupid. Why do you have to go?"

"You know this, Taylor. I'm one of the Firsts. I oversee everything in the vampire-,"

"Blah, blah, blah," I said, bobbing my head from side to side. "I know this already. There are others that lead to, send one of them."

"All of us are going, if we even have to. Look, I know it's hard for you. It will pain me to leave too, but it must be done. Fuck, there are too many people talking at once," he said, rubbing his hands over his face. "Give me a second," Damian said, closing his eyes and resting his elbows on his knees.

I never really understood the phrase "the silence was deafening" until I had to sit through such a situation. My palms grew sweaty as I waited, wishing that I could hear Damian's thoughts as he could hear mine. I rose from my bed, turning to leave the room, but was stopped by Damian's hand grabbing my wrist. 

"Don't go," he pled. 

"I'm thirsty."

"I'll get it," he said rising from the bed in one fluid motion before darting off to the kitchen. I sat back down on the bed and he was waiting for me, a bottle of Smart Water in his hand. The corner of his mouth pulled up into a crooked grin as I gasped. 

I snatched the bottle of water from him. "Thanks."

"My pleasure," he chuckled. 

"Nothing like scaring a defenseless human to perk a vamp up."

He shrugged, unapologetic. "I'm having my Second keep tabs on you while I'm gone. He'll come and introduce himself sometime soon."

"A babysitter? So it's for sure then; you're leaving?"

"You are not to go to Bar Louie for any reason. You will either drive the MKZ, or my Second will drive you to school and wherever you need to go. Are we clear?"

"Wait. Excuse me? I'm not a child, Damian. I can drive myself where I need to go, in my own car. This is ridiculous!"

"Taylor, these are just minor precautions for the time being. Don't be difficult."

"I'm not being difficult, I'm being a person! No one wants to be babysat when they're old enough to have children. How am I going to explain some big, burly dude to Kenna? She already gives me the third degree about everything, if you haven't noticed."

"I'm not about to argue with you, Taylor. In this case, it's my way or the highway."

"And what's the highway consist of?"

"My Second locking you up here or at my house for safekeeping until I return."

I threw my hands up in exasperation. "Fine. I'll drive your stupid MK-whatever," I said before combing my fingers through my hair. "What's with the security? I thought the threat was in Jerusalem."

"It is, but that doesn't mean trouble won't be here, too. I have to go. The sooner I leave, the sooner I will be back. Come here," he said, holding his arms out for me to hug him. I accepted, eager to hold on to him as long as possible. He bent down to kiss my forehead, and then he was gone. 

Light peeked in through the blinds that covered my window and I reflexively reached out for Damian. All I found was empty space...again. "Ugh," I groaned, remembering that he left days ago. I was still adjusting to his absence, even with his Second, Carter, trailing behind me all the time. 

"You know, I'm sure Damian wouldn't mind if you took a break from your babysitting duties," I said, annoyed. I just finished my last class for the day and finally made it home to find Carter waiting at the door. Did he think I couldn't find it on my own? "What?" I asked when I noticed his flinching.

"We don't call the Firsts by their given names. It's a form of disrespect in the vampire community."

"What do you call him, then?"

"Ian."

"Ian? Okay," I chuckled under my breath. "Well, I'm sure Ian would be fine with you leaving me alone for the night."

"I highly doubt that. He's very protective of you, if you haven't gathered that already," Carter said, straightening his black tie. I made a mental note to ask Damian about this man's attire later. Surely he wasn't comfortable following me for days in a three-piece suit. 

"I'm starting to. Would you like to stay for dinner? I'm making steak and potatoes."

"I don't know if that's such a good idea."

"Well, why not? You're forced to watch me; the least I can do is provide nourishment." A thought occurred to me. "Are you not on human food yet?"

"I've been able to eat regular food for some years now. I just don't want your roommate to become suspicious of my presence. It is my understanding that you do not wish to involve her in the world of the undead."

"It's fine. I'm sure you can handle yourself appropriately." I hoped that he didn't see my true intentions of inviting him to dinner. That would ruin my plan. Damian was so secretive about everything that went on in his world, and I wanted to know more. I needed to know more. I hoped that Carter would be my link into what Damian was really up against. "I'll make your steak extra rare. The best of both worlds," I tried to entice him. It worked. He followed me into the apartment without a backward glance. 

"Kenna! I'm home...with company," I added so she wouldn't come out naked or something. 

"Company? I thought Damian was out of town," she said, coming into the kitchen, dressed as if she was going out. She stopped in her tracks as soon as she saw Carter.

"He is, I have his...uh. This is one of Damian's body guards. Carter, this is my roommate and best friend, Kenna."

"Nice to meet you," Kenna said, as she continued to openly gawk at the man.

He gawked back, "It's my pleasure."

Suddenly, I felt like an intruder. The way that they stared at each other was so personal, emotional, and...erotic. There was a pressure in the room so intense that I needed to leave. I mumbled some type of excuse and stole away to my bedroom, my earlier plot to question Carter forgotten. The noise began before I even left the kitchen. There was some banging, rustling of papers, and the sounds of furniture scooting across linoleum. I almost went back out there until I heard the tearing of fabric coupled with moans and grunts. 

They're having sex? Already???

My mind couldn't even focus with all of the noise coming from my kitchen. I tugged my phone out of my purse, hitting number two on the speed dial. 

"Yes, love," I heard Damian say.

"Um, Damian. I need your help."

There was a brief silence. "Why? Is everything okay?"

"Well, I invited Carter over for dinner and he saw Kenna. Now they're having sex in the kitchen. I barely made it out of the room before they started going at it."

There was a lengthy silence. "Shit."

That wasn't what I wanted to hear. "What? Is she going to be okay?"

"I'm going to call Carter, although I'm not sure what I can do at this point."

"What does that mean? Is she going to die?"

"Let me call Carter, baby. I'll call you back."

The call ended, and I was left with the sounds of my best friend and Carter having sex. It was torture. Between her moans and his mixture of grunts and carnal praise, I was ready to join them. My flesh was heated, my mind conjuring images of Carter's tall, muscular build against Kenna's curvy, brown body. I could see him plowing into her, his muscles contracting and lengthening with every push and pull. I imagined Kenna's milk chocolate breasts bouncing up and down as she was being taken from behind. 

I found my hand nestled in my jeans, rubbing my clit in tandem with the thrusts I heard coming from the kitchen. I had never tried to pleasure myself before, but it seemed impossible not to do so with the turn of events. My breath came in shallow pants as I climbed higher toward that peak. "Oh," I moaned as my muscles started rippling. I was so close, I could feel it. Then my phone rang. Shit.

"Hello," I tried to make my voice sound normal.

"Taylor," he paused, probably assessing my tone; or I was just guilty and paranoid. "I'll be there in five." He hung up and I raced toward the shower. The tone of his voice told me that he meant business; hot, sweaty, carnal business. 

I left the bathroom to find that Carter and Kenna were still going at it. My body began to heat all over again. I walked into my bedroom, and he was waiting for me, as expected. My eyes drank him in. He was outfitted in a tailored, navy suit that gave off a subtle silver sheen. His silver tie was tucked neatly into a silver vest that poked out from under his jacket. My mouth went dry as desire pooled in my belly. I closed the door, my eyes not leaving his. "Did they have the decency to stop when you came in?"

"Two people caught in passion as those two are probably didn't even notice my presence."

"So," I said, trying to keep the room filled with something other than grunts and groans, "you came back quickly. I thought a flight from Jerusalem would be a little longer," I tried to joke, but my voice was too heavy to pull it off. 

"One of the Firsts is a Transporter. He can appear and reappear anywhere as long as he knows where he's going."

"So that's how you got here so quick?"

He nodded. "We were wrapping up in Jerusalem when you called so I requested to be dropped off here. And I come to find you like this," he cocked his head to the side, assessing the towel around my body. 

"I needed a shower."

"I can still smell your arousal." My face heated as he continued. "You know, when I called Carter, he told me that I needed to come here quick. That you were back here pleasuring yourself."

Damn vampiric senses. I could've sunk into the carpet, but it still wouldn't have hidden my embarrassment. 

He got up from the edge of my bed and walked toward me, like a jungle cat stalking its prey. "At first I was angry that you would do such a thing in a house with another vampire, but I quickly got over that. You didn't know what you were doing."

"I...I don't know what you mean."

"The scent of female arousal is a scent so powerful it only comes second to one other. Can you guess what it is, love?"

"Blood?"

"Yes, blood," Damian went on to explain as he removed his silver cufflinks, placing them neatly on my vanity. "You see, Carter is much younger than I, and he wouldn't have been able to resist you for much longer," he said while unraveling the towel that covered my body. I heard it fall to the floor somewhere in the back of my mind, but my focus was elsewhere. "He would've fucked you and your roommate at the same time, and I couldn't have blamed him." Damian's eyes were pure yellow and hooded as he peered down at me. He wanted me too, and it made me even more aroused.




We Are the Day Ch. 03



"Kenna. Is she going to be alright?" I had to find out before I was caught in a sexual haze that would make everything else a distant memory. 

"Yes. I told Carter not to bite her until she knew the truth, but I'm sure she knows something by now." He must have sensed my confusion because he went on to explain himself. "When we orgasm, it's one of the most strong feelings that we have. It causes us to want to bite our partner, to drink their blood; especially if the said partner is also in orgasm. The blood has a special...flavor...during a sexual peak; this is amplified when a vampire has found their mate. Their other half, if you will. When a vampire orgasms with a mate," he said, taking one of my nipples in between his fingers and lightly twisting it, "it drives us to Claim them, mark them with our scent forever. What you saw tonight was two people finding their mate in each other."

I didn't know how he expected me to pay attention to anything he was saying while he was torturing my body in such magnificent ways. I threw my head back, welcoming the pleasure/pain that shot from my nipple to my groin. His hand snaked down to my warmth as he began to speak again. 

"I've wanted to Claim you since the first time I laid eyes on you, Taylor. But I've resisted for so long," he closed his eyes so tightly I thought the sockets would swallow them. 

"If you want me so badly, why don't you just have me?" I said, pushing my breasts onto his suit and wrapping my arms around him. 

"I've waited so long for a mate; I would probably bite and drain you. If I somehow found the will to stop, you'd end up like this," he motioned to his body. "You'd become a Child of the Night. I can't force you into this life due to recklessness."

"That's why you said we weren't ready for sex the other day?" I continued talking when he didn't answer, "I don't think you'll hurt me. I trust you."

"Taylor, you're a virgin. Even if you weren't, the chance of me stopping would be slight to none. How could I even begin to stop when I know that no other man has been where I have? That no other man has reached as far as I will? How can I stop when I feel this," he inserted a finger into my warmth, making me gasp, "squeezing around me when your orgasm rips though you?"

"Oh God," I whispered. The feeling of finally being filled was exquisite. 

"Carter just put Kenna to bed and he's on his way in here. He will watch, but I've instructed him not to touch you. Do you wish me to stop?"

"Carter, what?"

"He wants to watch me pleasure you. If you say no, I will send him on his way. Tell me what you want, Taylor." 

"I don't care. I just want you," I moaned as his thumb began to stroke my clit. "Are you going to take my virginity tonight?"

"I'm not certain that's the best idea. If you bleed and Carter is in here-,"

"I don't care! You will do it, tonight."

I heard Damian's intake of breath at my words. "Taylor. Neither you nor I can guess what could happen."

"Are we mates or not?" This question drew him up short. I took advantage. "I want you to Claim me tonight. Please."

Damian placed his forehead against mine and nodded. "You will hear my thoughts more clearly after this. I just want you to be aware. And-,"

I put my index finger on his lips, effectively silencing him. He withdrew his finger from my warmth and motioned for me to lay on the bed. I did as he asked and he began to remove his clothes until he stood in front of me, gloriously naked. It was as if he were chiseled out of stone. Every muscle of his body was well defined, I wanted to run my tongue over each and every one. 

"Spread 'em," he said, climbing onto the bed. I did as he asked and his face moved into the apex of my thighs. I cried out in pleasure as his tongue took a leisurely swipe at my folds. "God, you taste good, Taylor." I groaned in response. "Such a pretty little pussy."

He continued to lick at my sensitive folds as my body climbed higher and higher. I was close to the precipice when I heard the door creak open. Carter walked in, fully clothed, and moved the chair that sat in front of my vanity. When it was in the perfect position, he sat down, his yellowing eyes never leaving mine. 

"Stick with me," Damian said as he slid a finger into me. 

"Ah," I moaned as my hips began to move against his finger and tongue. Damian then inserted another finger into me and that was it. I came with so much force that my back bowed off of the bed. Carter's eyes glowed bright yellow as he began to unzip his pants. He brought out his manhood and began to stroke it as Damian continued to work his fingers in and out of me. 

"You're gonna need a third one for that pussy, Ian," Carter said, not taking his eyes off of me. 

"I know what the fuck I'm doing," Damian growled as the fingers from his other hand reached up to toy with my hardened nipples, making me writhe in pleasure. "Look at you, coming alive for me," Damian said before latching his mouth onto my swollen pebble of a nipple. 

A half groan, half moan issued from my lips and another orgasm began to build. There was pleasure all around; in my chest, my pussy, I didn't know how much more I could take. Then I looked at Carter again, and I lost it. He had his shaft in one hand, his balls cupped in the other as he pleasured himself. I had never seen anything like it in my life. 

Damian released my nipple as he inserted a third finger into me, causing my third orgasm to rip through me. He grabbed my jaw, forcing our eyes to lock. "You. Are. Mine. Never forget that," and with that he bit into my neck. I cried out as he pumped his fingers in and out of me, the pleasure/pain barrier broken down as the two blended into one. "Fuck, yes!" Damian roared in exultation when he came up for air. Blood covered his lips.

"Ugh. God, Damian," I groaned. Being drank from was a feeling like no other. It was like having two powerful orgasms simultaneously while having my pussy filled, both nipples sucked and being French kissed. I couldn't wait for him to repeat the act. 

"Oh, you liked that, did you?" Damian asked, picking my thoughts out of my head as always. 

"I think she did, Boss," I heard Carter say. 

"Maybe you'd like it even more if I do it while fucking you. Hmm?"

All I could do was moan in response. 

"She wants it, Boss. Give it to her," Carter said as he continued pumping his cock. 

"Shut up, Carter," Damian chuckled as he pushed his cock into me. 

The noise that I made was barely short of a scream. It felt like I was being ripped in two; he was just so big. 

"Shh, shh, baby. It's okay. It'll pass. Look at me, just look at me," Damian said, while he stroked my head. I did as he said, my eyes meeting his; it was a yellow-gray mash up. He kissed away the tear that trickled down my cheek as I ran my fingers through his hair. My breathing and Carter's hand pumping his manhood were the only sounds that filled the room. 

I began to get impatient laying there. The pain had subsided and I needed more of my man, so I moved my hips up, my body swallowing more of his shaft.

"Goddammit, Taylor. No!"

I continued to move against him anyway, my body having a goal of its own. Damian began to meet my movements with barely tamed thrusts. "Ah!" I moaned while wrapping my arms around Damian's back and trapping him between my legs. 

"Taylor, you're so tight. You feel so good. Are you ready for more? Please tell me you want more."

"You're not all the way in?!" my voice betrayed my shock.

"Ch- I can still see at least half of him from here, honey," Carter said. 

I heard the challenge implicit in his voice. He didn't think that I could take it all. I held my breath as I pulled my legs tighter under Damian's butt, forcing him to bottom out. 

Damian was caught off guard. "Son of a fucking bitch!"

"Damn!" Carter exclaimed while increasing the speed of his pumping. 

I let go of my breath, it came out in the form of a moan that was coupled with a scream. The sound continued on as Damian began to piston in and out of me, his caring nature forgotten and replaced by a more feral and primal need. "Yes," he hissed into my neck while continuing to pump in and out of me. My fourth orgasm hit me like a ton of bricks, knocking the wind out of me. Damian growled like an angry canine as he pumped in and out with vampiric speed. 

"Forget it, Carter," Damian said. He quit moving and sat inside of me.

"What?" I mumbled, coming down from my high. 

"Carter wants me to fuck your ass...so he can lick you. You're bleeding."

"Anal?" This was not how I imagined my first time, not by a long shot. "Will Kenna be mad?"

"I've told her everything about our nature. She's more understanding than you think," Carter said, removing his shirt and placing it on the back of the chair. 

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Taylor. This is your body we're talking about," Damian said while stroking my hair. 

"Will you be mad? You didn't want Carter to touch me before."

"I'm fine, baby. The choice is yours."

Carter was naked and waiting at the edge of the bed, his erection twitching against his belly. My mind was already made up. "Okay. Let's do it," I hugged Damian tighter and he began to pump into me again, this time at a leisurely pace. 

"I can't believe you, Taylor. You're being so brave tonight. God, how did I become so lucky to be matched with such a creature?" Damian asked of no one as he pulled out of me. I felt vacant as he slid off of me. 

Following Damian's instruction, I got off of the bed and let Carter lay down. "Now you're gonna have to sit on my face," Carter grinned at me as he tucked his hands under his head. He was so enjoying this! "You will, too. Now get on up here!"

"Carter, if you bite her, I will personally impale you on a stake and leave you out in the noonday sun. You got me?" 

"Crystal clear, Boss."

I climbed on up Carter's body and positioned my center over his mouth, he began to lick immediately. "Oh," I moaned as his tongue dove in and out of my pussy. 

"God, she tastes almost as good as Ken."

I looked at Damian to find him smirking, his arms crossed and eyes aglow. "Relax, baby. It's fine," he said while he walked over to me, his manhood swaying with every step he took. He planted his lips on mine, melting away all worries with the stroke of his tongue. His hands began to toy with my nipples as he continued to kiss me. Being stimulated in so many different areas had my fifth orgasm building. 

"Oh God," I said as Damian released my lips. I felt the bed dip as Damian crawled behind me, massaging my butt with fervor. 

"Carter, give it a rest for a second. I need in."

Carter quit licking just as Damian leaned me over and plunged into my warmth again. He fired in and out, my juices mixed with blood spilling down my legs. I heard Carter growl beneath me before he lapped up the liquid from my leg. Too soon, Damian pulled out. He repositioned at my rosebud and Carter went back to diving into my pussy. Carter reached up and grabbed onto my nipples as Damian's hands gripped my hips and pushed forward. 

"Don't tense up, Taylor. Relax." I did as he asked and felt him slide deeper into me. "Fuck." He sat, waiting for me to acclimate to the intrusion as Carter kept up the assault on my folds. The feeling of being penetrated on both ends was heady; I basked in it. "I'm going in." Inch by inch, Damian pushed into me until his balls sat against my butt cheeks. "Fuck. I think I'm going to die...again."

Carter chuckled into my pussy and I moaned. I had sat still long enough, I wanted more. "Damian," I whined. He knew what I meant, so he began to move. I thought Damian in my pussy had me full; I was so wrong. Damian in my ass was the fullest feeling in the world. I could barely stand it. "Oh, fuck," I held out each word as if they were long notes. 

"That's right, Taylor. Feel it for me," Damian said, delivering a swift smack to my right butt cheek. I squealed, which only seemed to make him more aroused. "Put your fingers in her, Carter."

"What? N-," before I could get the word out, Carter had me filled from the front and started to circle my clit with his tongue. It was too intense, there was nothing around me except for Carter and Damian; one in the front, one in the back. I was surrounded by two hard bodies. "Damian!" 

"You know I like when you say my name, baby," he growled. "Come for me! One last time; give it up for me!" He ordered while picking me up off my hands and holding my back to his chest. "Fuck! Me! Yes!" he spat as he drilled into my ass. Carter was consistent in his fingering and licking, moving with us as Damian directed. I was about to be a goner; this orgasm was going to kill me. Open your eyes, Taylor, Damian whispered in my mind. 

My eyes sprang open in surprise and I saw all three of us in my vanity mirror. Carter was working skillfully in my pussy and fisting his cock as Damian loomed over me, pounding into my ass, his eyes yellow and bright. That did it for me. I came so hard I felt liquid leave my body in hot spurts. I felt Damian's mouth at my neck and I knew he was going to taste me again. His teeth punctured the junction of my shoulder and neck, making me fall into another gut wrenching orgasm. Damian growled as hot liquid shot into me, his cock expanding and contracting with each spurt. 

"Fuck man! She squirts!" Carter said as he continued to finger me in earnest. "Shit!" he said, squirting his own hot, sticky liquid onto his chest and neck.

I came down from my high at last, Damian licking over the puncture wound in my neck. "She's wasted, I'm gonna stay here with her tonight," I heard Damian say. He sounded far away as I drifted into unconsciousness. Carter kissed my cheek and muttered thanks for the night before leaving. 

"Damian?"

"Yes, baby."

"Did you settle everything in Jerusalem?"

He laughed, but it didn't sound right. "You're worried about Jerusalem? You should be sleeping, love."

"What about your sleep?"

"I stopped needing sleep centuries ago, Taylor. Now, not another word. Bed."

I rolled my eyes. So bossy.

Go to sleep, Taylor.

"I have one more question."

"For the love of...what, Taylor?"

"Why does Carter wear a suit all the time?"

"Those involved in the chain of command are expected to present themselves as businessmen while handling clan affairs. Now go to bed, or I will have to bring Carter back for round two."

I shut my eyes instantly. Going for a second round with those two would kill me.

"Taylor."

No.

"Taylor, wake up."

"Huh?"

"Taylor!"

I shot up out of the bed. "What? Is the apartment on fire?"

"No, silly girl. Kenna's been up for an hour, waiting to talk to you." I looked at the clock on my nightstand. It read 11:07am.

"Ugh, why?" 

Damian chuckled. "It'll come back to you."

I got out of bed, the answer coming to me in the form of a sore ass and crotch. "Oh my God."

"Are you upset?" Damian was by my side in an instant, his hands out as if I were about to fall over. 

I pondered this, but I knew I had no reason to be upset. Everything that happened the previous night was consented and thoroughly enjoyed; but, I always thought that losing my virginity would be a more romantic affair with dinner by candlelight, soft music, and soothing, gentle lovemaking. Last night was fucking, but I loved it. Damian's words engulfed me like flames would a pile of dry leaves; he was encouraging and carnal at the same time. The way he filled me in both the front and back drove me wild; I could still feel the evidence of his presence this morning as I walked to my dresser drawers. 

Carter was present, too. Never in a lifetime would I had expected to have Carter involved in the taking of my virginity. The remembrance of him encouraging Damian to take me made the color red creep into my cheeks. Damian listened to him, and he did more than take me, he possessed me. His bite was fresh in my mind as I peered into my vanity mirror. There was only the slight evidence of teeth marks on my skin. 

"There's actually teeth imprints."

"What did you expect?" Damian asked, hesitant. 

I held up my index and middle fingers and crooked them over to look like fangs, moving them up and down in a clawing motion. Damian laughed so hard I thought he was going to fall over.

"We don't have fangs, Taylor. That's the media's way of trying to figure out how we penetrate human skin. To be honest, human skin can be easily broken. It's about the same consistency as Jell-O to us."

"Oh," I said, throwing on a pair of pajama bottoms and a tank top. 

"Hey, come here," Damian said, pulling me into an embrace. "Did you not enjoy last night? If not, we don't have to do it again. It can just be me and you from now on, okay?" he said, running his fingers through my hair. 

"I enjoyed last night. Maybe too much. I think I'm paying for it today," I laughed lightly. "I wouldn't mind doing that again, I just really need to talk to Kenna about all of this first. I don't want her mad at me for last night."

"Her thoughts have no hostile edge. She's just curious about what you think about everything. So, you would do it again?"

"Did you enjoy it? Sharing me, I mean?"

"Yes and no. I want all of your pleasure, Taylor, but seeing you so overcome like that, man. It's making me hard all over again just thinking about it."

"You trust Carter."

"With my life. That's why he's my Second and best friend. If it were someone else, I never would've allowed last night to happen."

I nodded. "So, what's the plan for today? Do you have anything going on?"

"Not really. I mean, duty always calls, but there's nothing out of the ordinary. I think that you should spend the day with Kenna, though. I've been monopolizing all of your time."

I sighed. I had spent the last seventeen years with Kenna, maybe I wanted to spend it with someone else. Damian leaned back to look at me, his eyebrow cocked. I'd have to learn how to block my thoughts sooner or later. "Fine, fine. I'll walk you out."

I bid Kenna good morning as Damian and I walked hand-in-hand to the door. We muttered our goodbyes and shared a lengthy kiss that had my insides aflame. I closed the door and my heart began to race. Damian said that there were no hard feelings on Kenna's side, but I would never know that for certain unless I talked to her. I walked over to the coffee pot and poured the steamy brown liquid into my favorite mug. 

"Creamer's already out," Kenna told me from her position at the dining room table. 

"Thanks for making this," I mumbled, sitting down at the table. 

She shrugged. "I figured you'd need it after your long night last night," there was a smile on her face and in her voice. 

"It was a long night," I smiled back. 

"Ugh, please tell me you're not going to be secretive anymore, Tay. I need to know everything." 

"I thought you knew everything."

"I want to hear your side."

I went through the entire story of how Damian and I met, the Tony fiasco, and everything that led up to last night. Kenna sat and listened, only interrupting me two or three times-which was good for her. "You're not mad are you?"

"No, Taylor," she sighed. "He's mine. I can get him every night," she smirked, "though I wish that I could've joined you. I was wasted. Four orgasms!"

My cheeks heated, "Six."

"Damn. Now I'm really mad I didn't join you."

"You would've?"

"In a heartbeat. I've been a part of groups before, Taylor."

I flinched. "But with me though?" I always knew that my best friend had bisexual tendencies when she got the right amount of alcohol in her system, but I never delved into how that may translate into her time spent being sober. 

"Of course," she laughed. "It's mainly about pleasure, Taylor. I have no real attraction to women. Sometimes, women just do it better," she shrugged before taking a swig of her coffee. 




We Are the Day Ch. 03



"So, the four of us would...?" My pussy was clenching already thinking of the possibilities. What has become of me in the last couple of weeks?

"Well, would you mind me and Damian going at it?"

"I don't think I'd be too comfortable with that. I mean, I guess as long as it's not penetration. Kind of like how Carter was last night. I could deal with that, I guess." 

"Did you touch Carter at all last night?"

"No," I said, my eyes wide. "He touched himself, you know," I made the gesture with my hand and Kenna laughed. "He came so hard it hit his chest and some hit his neck. I'd never seen anything like it."

"That's so hot," Kenna put her coffee cup down. 

"Are we supposed to be this libidinous? I mean, it's never been this way before. Now all of the sudden we have vampire boyfriends, it's like we're not gonna be able to keep our crotches covered."

"Carter said that it's because of the bite. It wears off as soon as the venom leaves our systems. He said something about macrophages eating the venom or something. He's really a brainiac. The total opposite of me," she laughed. "He was telling me that vamps are really sexual creatures because of the way their senses are ultra-heightened. They smell far away, they taste things even in the air, and when you touch them, it goes through them and feels like a full body caress. Our touch lingers on the surface of our skin and in one spot, see," she said running her finger tips up and down my arm. 

I nodded, "Yeah, I get it." 

"But the same goes for bad things. If a vampire hates you, it's an all-consuming thing and is never really reconciled until one of the parties dies. Anger and love, those are the strongest emotions that a vampire feels."

"When did you learn all of this?"

"Last night and some this morning. Carter came to check on me before you got up, and we had a quickie."

I shook my head. "Is a quickie even possible in the vampire world?"

"Yeah. It lasts as long as the human does."

I laughed so hard it shook my frame. "I can see that. What are we gonna do, Ken? How is it even possible that we both fell for vampires? A few weeks ago, we didn't even know they really existed."

"I know girl. It's crazy. I know what I'm gonna do, though. After college is over, I'm gonna marry Carter in the traditional sense, and then have him change me."

I gasped as my hand flew up to my throat. "After one night, Kenna?"

"He's my mate, and I'm his mate, Taylor. It's final, there's no other. Ever. You don't feel the same about Damian? Because if not, he's probably not your mate." 

That stung, but it was true. I had seen the mating bond depicted in films, I'd read about it...it was instantly a life-changing occurrence. Did I feel that way about Damian? My mind flipped through the storybook of our time together and came to the conclusion that yes, Damian was my mate. I could not be without him, and I would not. I squared my shoulders and poked my chest out some. "I think that sounds like a good enough plan for me, too."

She smiled and moved to the sink to rinse her cup.

A thought occurred to me. "Ken, what has Carter said about Jerusalem?" Even through all of the haze from the previous night, my question to Damian after losing my virginity rung out in my mind. He laughed, yes, but it was forced...calculated, even. He was hiding something from me. He was almost always hiding something from me. 

"It's not looking good, from what Carter says. They found most of the betrayers, but there were still some that got away before the Firsts could get to them. The Rogues had gained a good amount of strength back, but not enough to get out of their tombs. Since none of the Rogues are Daywalkers, the Firsts have been using sunlight to weaken them to nothing again."

"Why don't they just kill them?" I asked. Surely it wasn't that much trouble killing a dilapidated vampire.

"They're still trying to figure out how to do it. Killing a regular vampire is a hell of a lot easier than killing one of the oldest vampires alive. They've decapitated them and burned them, their ashes piece themselves back together one by one. They've doused them in holy water...they've starved them. They tried burning them to death in the sunlight; that didn't work. They're pretty much running out of options at this point."

My mind swiveled like an office chair. These things were un-killable. Damian would have to go and come all the time because these creatures wouldn't die. My heart sank low into my chest. I hated when Damian went away, it was like half of my heart was cut off and transported to wherever he was located. 

Kenna reached out to me, "Hey, it's okay. Carter has been working hard on trying to find a solution to the problem. I'm sure he'll figure something out. And if you think about it, this news could be beneficial to you. If it's so hard to kill the Rogues, it's got to be hard to kill the Firsts."

Kenna was right. Damian was the same age as the Rogues and in way better condition. "Thanks, Ken. That does help."

"You know Damian doesn't tell you things because he wants to keep you from worrying. He's not trying to be a jerk or anything." 

I sighed. "I know. I just wish he wouldn't feel the need to protect me all the time. Information isn't going to kill me; in fact, it may be stuff I don't know that gets me killed in the end."



We Are the Day Ch. 04



Hey there readers!

Here's the fourth chapter of WATD. I'd just like to send a special shout out to all of my readers. It's nice to have so many people like and vote for my stories...even the negative comments were helpful in some aspects. That being said, I hope you all stick around for some of the answers to your chapter three concerns and dislikes in the chapters to come. It'll all make sense eventually.

Happy reading! And remember to keep voting and leaving comments!

<3 CC

Chapter Four

"Alright, what do you think?" Kenna asked me, twirling to model her new outfit. It was a red, plastic-looking dress that barely covered the top of her thigh. Her legs were adorned with black fishnets, her feet clad with black pumps.

"It's a little short for the end of October, don't you think?"

"It's for the Halloween party this Thursday, Tay."

"Well, what are you going as?"

She pouted. "I don't know."

I laughed as I shook my head. "You bought this dress and don't even have a plan?"

"It was too was cute to pass up, okay?" She laughed with me, putting her hands on her hips. "What should I do with it?"

I pondered this before answering. "It's gonna be cheesy, but cute in a way." She looked intrigued, so I continued. "Throw on some fangs and go as a vampire," I shrugged.

Squeals flooded her bedroom. "Oh my God, Tay! That's brilliant! Carter is so gonna get a kick out of that!"

I nodded. "He will. I think Damian would too," even though we weren't exactly on speaking terms.

"Oh!" she began to squeal again. "So you're going with me?"

"Yes, but there's gonna be some rules." Kenna groaned, but I continued anyway. "Number one, no drinking. Not. A. Drop." I was determined not to have to peel Kenna Janae Jones out of another stranger's bathtub.

"Ugh, you sound like Carter."

"Number two, we both have to attend our classes on Friday morning."

"What? Why?!"

I almost laughed at her expression, but I was quick to compose myself. "Your parents paid a lot of money for you to go to college, Ken. The least you can do is graduate."

"We all know that school was never my plan. I was going to move to California and become a beach rat!"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, because that would've worked."

"Whatever. I have a gift for you, even though you're being mean to me tonight," she said while disappearing into her closet. She came out producing a black version of her dress. "I thought you'd change your mind with everything going on," she shrugged. I sighed as she sat on the bed next to me, putting her arm around my shoulder. "You wanna talk about it? He's been gone for days and you've barely even mentioned his name."

"That's just it, I always talk to you about it. It's Damian that I need to talk with," I vented as our last argument replayed in my head.

"Damian, I have a right to know what's going on. I mean, I'm a part of your life," I told him one night after a movie. I had resisted his attempts to get physical in the hope that we could have a decent conversation that didn't involve him talking into my set of lips that couldn't talk back.

"There are some things that you should know, then there are others that you don't need to know."

"And it's at your discretion to decide whether or not I get to know these things?"

He shrugged, which tipped me over the edge. I felt my teeth grind together as my fists clenched and unclenched. I was usually a docile person, even in the midst of an argument, but the past few days after the loss of my virginity were building up into a massive pile of hurt and anger. How dare he keep the truth from me-the person he said was his partner for life?

My voice raised to a level I had never used before as I made my feelings about his tight-tongue known. "What the fuck?! Carter tells Kenna everything! She's off being the vampire whisperer and I know barely anything about what you do or what is going on in Jerusalem, with the clans in America; hell, I don't know shit about your clan! How do you think I feel when I have to scrape bits of information off of Kenna when you should be telling me everything in the first place? We're supposed to be partners...mates. I mean, you bit me and shit," I motioned harshly to my neck.

His jaw was tense as he looked at me. I could tell that he was angry, but I didn't care; I was angry too, and he needed to listen to me for once. "Just because I bit you, doesn't mean we're mates. Yes, we had sex and I bit you, but it takes more than that to confirm a mating."

I recoiled as if he slapped me. He might as well had. "So what are you saying? That we're not mates?" Even though I was beyond mad at him, the thought of us not being together hurt me to my core.

"I'm saying that a mating isn't official until both parties share blood. If you haven't noticed," he pulled down the collar to his shirt, "I have no marks. No blood was drawn. I Claimed you as my mate, but we're far from mated."

I felt the sting of unshed tears rip at my eyes. "So you just fucked me and let your friend enjoy the ride, too. Great."

His head whipped around, his eyes burning yellow. "Taylor, you don't know the first fucking thing about-," he began, but was interrupted by his phone ringing. "Andros!" He answered harshly as he turned away from me.

I stood, arms crossed, and fuming. I had never been so angry in my life...unless the time my dad stepped on my Barbie doll's head counted. I left the room, slamming the door shut. It was childish, but I didn't care. This entire argument could've been avoided if he would just open his mouth and tell me what I wanted and needed to know. I wanted him to treat me as his equal, not a child.

Damian found me in the living room. "I have to leave. There's been a summit called."

"Fine," I said, not bothering to look in his direction.

"I promise you that when I get back that we will have a discussion. There's just so much that you don't understand about a lot of things, and...ugh," he groaned, making me look up at him. He ran his hands through his hair before continuing. "We'll talk when I get back."

"Am I allowed to know when you'll be coming back?"

"If I knew, I would tell you," he ground out.

"Fine. Have fun," I said, turning to head back to my bedroom. I heard the front door slam behind me as tears fell down my cheeks.

I hadn't talked to Damian much since that argument; a couple of texts were exchanged here and there, but nothing too extensive. I ignored his calls when he did find the time to actually dial my number. It hurt, but I had a point to prove; he was not going to treat me like an afterthought.

"You know he just wants to protect you, Tay," Kenna told me, like she had millions of times before.

"That's just stupid," I huffed while getting up from the bed. "How does withholding information protect me? It really just makes me angry and not trust him."

"I don't think that Damian is up to no good, Taylor. Maybe there really are things that he thinks are just too scary for you to know for the time being. When you become a big, strong vampire, he'll tell you all the dirt," Kenna tried to cheer me up, but in-so-doing, brought up another touchy subject.

"We haven't talked about me becoming a vampire."

"Why not?"

I shrugged. "Haven't really had the chance to bring it up." Not that I would want to anyway.

I wanted Damian more than anything I had ever wanted in my life, but I wasn't sure if I was ready to become a vampire; to have to rely on the blood of another was not an appealing factor to me. Then there was the issue of actually controlling the thirst. I didn't want to kill people, but what if I couldn't stop and I drained a person dry; leaving them limp and gray in the corner of an alley? The thought had my stomach churning. "Maybe we should have a drink or two at that party," I sighed while getting up from the bed.

Kenna looked at me, her eyes were sad, but she tried to fake a smile. I tried to return it, but I was sure it came out as a grimace at best.

"I'm gonna go to bed," I told her.

I barely slept that night, even after Damian sent me a text saying where he was and that he missed me. I read the message and rolled over. I wanted to reply, but I couldn't. Not until he faced what was going on in the relationship. Not until he faced me.

Unbidden and unwanted, the night that I lost my virginity began to flood my memory. Was that only a week ago? So much had changed since then. Damian and I were seemingly happy at that time. I thought that I had lost my virginity to someone that wanted me forever, and that I wanted forever, but now everything was shrouded by gray clouds of uncertainty. Tears began to trickle down my cheeks as I tried to figure out what to do.

What could I do? It was up to Damian to tell me things, to share his life with me. I couldn't force it on him; that had already been proven. Maybe passive aggressive was the route to take.

Yeah, because that's been working out great so far.

The tears stopped, but I felt bare, empty, and afraid; somehow, I felt that this had nothing to do with Damian. He never made me feel that way, even taking our argument into account. After all, he was trying to communicate with me; I was the one holding out on him, waiting for the day that he saw what his secretiveness was doing to me. It made me angry, yes, but to feel scared and naked was another matter.

The morning brought no reprieve from my sadness and feelings of unease, only the promise of another day. I got up, showered, and went through my morning routine and found Kenna waiting for me in the kitchen, a pot of coffee already brewed. "You know me so well," I muttered while pouring a cup. I eyed my favorite mug. "Not even Mr. Froggy can bring me joy this morning," I sighed, poking the eye of the green frog with my finger.

"Taylor, everything is going to be fine," Kenna tried to reassure me, but there was only so much that she could do; especially since she wasn't the problem.

"I wish I could believe that. There's a big storm cloud hanging over my head, just waiting to explode. An entire flood is gonna fall on me and I have no clue how to even begin to tackle it."

"That's the problem, Tay. You're always trying to tackle everything. Life happens, things happen. You just have to deal with what comes. You think that something is going on that he's not telling you about, is that what you mean?"

"I don't really know," I said, unsure. I fingered my coffee mug, waiting to find some words to fit my feelings. "I just have this hunch that shit's about to hit the fan. Even last night when I was trying to sleep, stuff just felt...off," I shrugged while setting my empty mug in the sink. The clang of metal reverberated through me, exemplifying the hollowness I felt inside. I frowned and immediately turned away from the sink.

"Well, when your relationship is going through a rough time, it seems like everything else is against you, too."

I nodded, and even though I agreed to a certain extent, this situation was different. My problem with Damian and this other cloud over me, I felt, were separate; each problem obscuring the light that once made its presence known in my life.

"You ready to go?" I asked Kenna while slinging my backpack over my shoulder.

"Yeah, just need to put my cup in the sink."

I cringed as her cup clanged against the sink, reminding me, again, of my hollow state. I opened the door to the apartment to get a fresh breath of air, hoping that the act would help me to start my day off in a better direction. I had been cooped up into the apartment for so long, maybe that was playing a role in my sullen attitude. When I stepped outside, I immediately wished that I hadn't opened the door.

A wave of emotion that I had never felt before hit me like a wrecking ball would a condemned building. Paranoia wasn't really the appropriate name for it, because I knew something beyond normal was happening around me; it wasn't just a guess or fleeting suspicion. My eyes scraped through the parking lot, trying to catch anything that may be off balance. When I found nothing, I proceeded to Kenna's car.

"You still refusing to drive the MKZ?" she asked, oblivious to my preoccupation.

I was glad that she was clueless this time; I didn't need her to worry about me any more than she already did. "Yeah. It's annoying. First, he doesn't tell me what I want to know, then he forces me to drive his stupid car."

"Your stupid car," Kenna corrected me.

"I didn't even want it."

She shrugged. "But you got it."

I sighed. "And I still refuse to drive it."

I went through the motions of going from class to class, but I couldn't shake the creepy feeling that ran over my skin; it was like it was trying to part from my body. The feeling continued for days, and I was on the verge of calling Damian. I was sure that someone, or something, was watching me, but I had no idea why.

At first I weighed the option that Damian was having me followed, but I quickly ruled that thought out. Damian only had Carter watch me, and if he sent someone new, they would have presented themselves before duty. My next option was that someone was just curious about me and wanted to know more without getting too close; as if they were afraid to alarm me. Deep down, I knew this option was highly unlikely, but I clung to it anyway.

Wednesday night, I fought to sleep, like every other night that week. My hands shook with fear as I listened intently for any sounds out of the ordinary. Tree leaves and branches rustled in the breeze, there were owl hoots every so often; all of this was normal-so why was I still on edge? I had tried to fight off my fear by singing a song, thinking about what I would say to Damian upon his return; I even brainstormed for my next painting project. Nothing worked, so I left my room to find Kenna. She was sound asleep in her bed.

"Ken."

"What?"

"Can I sleep with you?"

"Thought you'd never ask," she grumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

I forced a chuckle and crawled into her bed, rolling over to face her back. I figured that looking at something other than wall or window would help me feel better. It kind of worked. My heart rate decreased gradually as my muscles continued to loosen, and I was finally able to fall to sleep.

Thursday came, and with it, Halloween. I woke up feeling different...relaxed, even. I no longer had the feeling that my skin was trying to leave my bones, I didn't feel the need to look over my shoulder constantly; freedom rang from every cell in my body, so I felt it was only fitting to celebrate. Damian's own gray cloud still loomed over me, but I would deal with that when he came home.

I threw myself into lecture and painting lab with gusto so classes went by in an easy blur. Kenna and I left school together and were instantly in party mode. Our hair was in rollers as we weaved around the apartment and each other, readying ourselves for the night's main event. If I were being honest, I would say that I missed this time I used to share with Kenna. Getting dolled up was fun, especially with the makeup expert that Kenna was. Her brushes tickled my face as she applied powers and creams that I knew nothing about, and when she was done, I looked into the mirror, not fully recognizing the girl before me.

"Wow," I said as I took in my smoky eyes and blood red lips. My hair was full of volume, which was also part of Kenna's handiwork. "It's great, Ken."

"Not yet. Look, I got these delivered on a rush order," she said holding up a box that said "Scarecrow: Custom Fangs" on it.

I laughed, "Custom and a rush order. Really, Kenna?"

"Yeah, well. It's the first time in a long time that you agreed to come with me to a party. I want it to be awesome."

"What better way to do it than with realistic fangs?"

"Indeed. I'll help you fit and set them after I'm done with my makeup and stuff. Then we can take pictures!" She squealed and clapped. I grinned, her enthusiasm was contagious.

The party was held in a house at the Mishawaka-Granger line. It was an older, but elegant house that looked Victorian; it was hard to tell because it was dark outside. There were imitation cobwebs strung from chandeliers, and in their company were fake spiders. I shuddered at how realistic both appeared. The house was lit dimly and specked with orange up-lighting and there even was a fog machine somewhere in the house that left a steady stream of grayish white smoke across the floor. I was immediately impressed.

I made a beeline for the punch bowl, that was bound to be spiked, and poured a glass; Kenna followed wanting a glass of her own. "You're eager to drink tonight," Kenna noted, glancing at me over the rim of her glass. I knew she was still worried about me, despite my shift of mood today. That worry was probably amplified now that I was drinking. I rarely ever drank; a glass of wine here or there was all I'd ever had.

"Last one," I told her, refilling my second cup as a girl that Kenna and I recognized from school made her way to where we were standing.

"Hey, Rachael!" Kenna called over the thud of music.

"Hey," I also said after putting down my now empty cup.

"Hey! I like you guys' costumes," Rachael said, motioning to me and Kenna's alternately matching ensembles.

"Thank you," I told her, smiling. "Are the fangs believable?" I opened my mouth wider to show my teeth to her.

"Actually, they look like your regular teeth! That's awesome," she laughed. "Although, I'm certain vampires don't have fangs."

Kenna dropped her cup and my eyes grew wide. Thankfully, I had time to recover before Rachael turned her attention back to me. "What makes you think that?"

"Just research that I've been doing."

"Research?" Kenna asked, composing herself into a bubbly façade while sopping up her mess with paper napkins. "Why would you want to research the undead?"

"Vampires have always interested me, even before the media went on a bandwagon-jumping, Twilight craze."

"But it did factor into your research?" I guessed.

"Of course," she gushed. "As did the Lost Boys, Vampire in Brooklyn, all of the Dracula movies known to man, the list is endless. But, there are books and old articles that I work with, too. I found that while fangs have played a key role in most vampire legends, they're unnecessary for penetration of the human skin. I found that they're more so for show than anything."

"What's your major again?" Kenna asked.

Rachael laughed. "Accounting."

"Accountant by day, vampire hunter and witch by night," I commented while motioning to her barely there costume.

She groaned. "You can tell what I am? I ditched the broom and stuff so that it wouldn't be so obvious. The minute I came in here, guys have been all like, 'hey girl, you want a piece of wood to ride?' Or 'I'll show you my magic stick'."

I stuck out my tongue in disgust.

"Really? Those have got to be the most gross and childish pick-up lines that I've ever heard, and I've heard them all," Kenna said, putting down her newest cup of punch. "Let me tell you 'bout it."

She went on with pick up line after pick up line, but I tuned her out. My skin began to prickle and crawl as the feelings of unease returned. I cursed internally as I scanned the room in its entirety. I saw nothing out of the ordinary until my eyes captured a man by the sound system. He was studiously watching me, a red cup lifted to his mouth. The man had dark hair and facial features that were too angular-he looked hard and angry.

"Taylor, you okay?" Kenna asked, breaking through my panic.

"Yeah. I just need to use the bathroom. I'll be back," I said, leaving Kenna and Rachael to talk amongst themselves.

The bathroom that I found myself in was definitely owned by a girl; the pale pink and gold color scheme as well as the neat display of towels told me as much. I turned the knobs of the golden sink and made a pool of water in my hand before throwing it against my neck. It felt refreshing against my skin. When I felt somewhat better, I turned the knobs to their original position, releasing the water of its duties. I looked into the mirror to check my hair and makeup and found myself staring at a pair of obscenely green eyes in the mirror. I recognized the hair and angry face immediately. Panic built up in me as I realized what an idiotic decision it was to leave Kenna and Rachael-that was probably what this guy wanted. To single us out and do something to us. By the look in his eyes, that "something" involved some type of one-sided sexual gratification.




We Are the Day Ch. 04



He broke the silence first.

"You and your friend were looking hot down there."

"Yeah, well, we weren't exactly campaigning for peeping Toms," I said, turning to face my somewhat stalker.

He laughed and scooted closer to me. "Two beautiful women such as yourselves were bound to attract attention."

"How long have you been watching us?"

"Long enough." For some reason, this spread more fear within me. I continued to look at him as he looked over my body, licking his lips lightly. I fought the urge to vomit. "Are you enjoying the party?" He finally asked, scooting even closer to me.

"I guess." I folded my arms across my chest, hoping that my skin wouldn't leave my body. Every hair was raised to attention as the nameless man surveyed me.

He nodded, as he looked to be contemplating something. "I tried to make it as enjoyable as possible. I'm not used to throwing parties."

"So this is your house?"

"Yeah."

"How old are you?" He looked young to have a house this opulent.

"I stopped counting at nine hundred."

I tried to contain my composure. "Bullshit."

His eyes flashed yellow and I jumped backward, my back painfully hitting the sink. Apart from Damian and Carter, this was the only vampire I had ever seen, and I did not feel that this meeting would end well. A salacious grin spread over his hard face, making him look demonic.

"Don't try to act surprised; you reek of that fucker, Andros. I take it you're his mate; his scent lingers and mixes with your own. Though, why you're still human, I cannot fathom," he said as if this was a complete mystery to him, his eyes scrunched up in confusion. "You being human leaves both you and him so vulnerable...weak."

I tried to back away from the sink and make my way to the other door, but my path was instantly blocked. I knew that trying to get away would be no use; but the human instinct was to run in fearful situations, and I was still human-as the man pointed out. He laughed sardonically, his smile chilling.

"What do you want?" I asked, hoping it was something simple. Hopefully he would just take me and leave Kenna.

"I'd like for you to give Andros a little message for me-if you live, that is" he said, running his hands through his cropped hair.

If I live? So he wasn't planning to rape me...just kill me. Somehow, I found this to be a comfort.

The nameless vampire hooked a finger in the top of my dress and pulled me closer to him. I could feel his finger resting in my cleavage. "Tell your mate this: the fallen will rise again, this is his first and only warning. Well," he contemplated as his head bobbed from side to side, "and this." With speed that could only be vampiric, his hand reached out toward me. I felt and heard the tearing of skin at my neck; my hand reflexively reached up to where the blood came spurting out.

Hot, sticky liquid oozed from between my fingers as I collapsed to the floor. The nameless vampire licked his finger and within the same breath was gone. I couldn't yell for help, I couldn't move for fear. Pain shot through the gaping wound at my neck as panic took hold of me.

Damian! I tried to call to him from my mind, but I knew it was no use. He was too far away. My vision began to blur as I gasped for air on the plush, pink carpet that was now stained and soaked with my blood. Carter! Damian! I continued to call in my head to no avail.

Oh, God. My brain was beginning to get fuzzy as I still attempted to call out to Damian and Carter. It was no use. This man that had a quarrel against Damian had done what he set out to do. The thought caused tears to pool in my eyes. Damian was right. Maybe I did need protecting. I had been naïve for so long, and now I knew it. Not all vampires were like Damian and Carter; there were real monsters out there that wanted blood for the fun of it.

I put my heels against the base of the tub in an attempt to push off and get closer to the door. I failed. The bottom of my heels were too slippery with my own blood. Reaching my hand out, I tried to pull myself along the carpet. It was in vain: I had no more strength left in me to move, only to think.

Damian, please. I'm sorry. I knew he couldn't hear me, but I still tried. I had to try. He needed to hear my apology; to know how sorry I was...how wrong I was, but all the while, I knew it was too late. It was over. My art, my schooling, me and Damian...my life. Tears began to trickle down my cheeks, further blurring my vision. Damian, I love you.



We Are the Day Ch. 05



Hey there readers! Sorry about being a laggard in updating Damian and Taylor's story; I'm in the process of completing an internship at the Shedd Aquarium (which is completely awesome) so, I'm almost always busy doing work for that. That being said, a new story has blossomed from my time there, so be on the lookout for that as well as the following chapters for WATD.

Also, I hope that this chapter helps to answer a lot of your questions about previous chapters (namely, chapter 3)...if I had all of the "connecting" chapters written, I would've posted them for you guys in one big block so that you wouldn't be so mad at me and my characters, but I work one chapter at a time. But, as always, feedback is greatly appreciated! I love hearing from you guys!

Happy reading!

<3 CC

Chapter Five

Her scream ripped through my unconsciousness, but my eyes wouldn't open. I had to reach her...I had to come back. "Taylor! Oh my God, Taylor!" I felt Kenna's body hovering over mine as she put something under my nostrils. It felt like an ear.

"Carter," she sobbed, "Carter, you have to come home, now! Taylor's dying! Somebody," he fought her sobs to try to convey what happened to me. "Somebody slit her throat and she's lost a l-lot of blood. I don't know what happened. One minute we were t-talking and then she w-went to the bathroom. She was t-taking forever and I f-f-found her here like this."

She told him where we were, though I wasn't sure what good it would do. They were all the way in New York, last I knew. I heard her phone drop to the floor as she cradled me into her chest, her hand was at my throat. I guess she was trying to hold in what little blood I had left. I wanted to tell her that it was no use, but I couldn't get my lips to part.

I heard the door to the bathroom fly open and hoped with every fiber of my being that it wasn't the guy who did this to me. Kenna didn't need to die, too. I should've told her to leave. I could've tried to push her out or something.

"Holy fuck!" I heard Carter say.

"NO!" Damian roared. I was probably going crazy, but I swore that I could see the yellow of his eyes from behind my eyelids. He said something about needing to leave, and I was swiftly lifted from the floor.

It felt like I was being squeezed in from all sides as darkness surrounded me. Even with my eyes closed, the darkness was noticeable; it was all encompassing, choking...suffocating. Open your eyes, open your eyes, I told myself, but it didn't happen. Fight, fight...come on, I coached myself not no avail. I was losing the battle between life and death.

"What are you going to do?" I heard Kenna ask someone.

Damian answered. "I have to give her blood."

"What?"

"I don't have time for your questions. She gets my blood or she dies." His words and a drop of liquid on my neck were the only warnings I received before the pain hit. I wanted to scream, but I couldn't find my voice as my body writhed, bent, and bowed.

I would not wish what I was going through on anyone; not even the man who made it necessary. I felt as if I was being scorched from the inside, shredded by barbed wire, and having all of my bones broken by a sledgehammer; but, I'd rather have the pain than the darkness that was waiting for me on the other side. At least the pain let me know that I was alive and making my way back to the people that I loved the most.

"Taylor!" Kenna yelled.

"No, Kenna! She's fine. It just hurts a little," Carter told his mate.

"A little! It looks like she's being exorcised! What did you do to her?" Kenna screeched.

"I saved her life! If you can do anything better, be my guest. If not, I think it's best that you get the fuck out of my house," Damian snarled.

"What's your problem?" Kenna's voice escalated further as they continued to argue. From what I gathered, Damian was upset that we were out at a party. He said something about us being at risk.

As the pain subsided, I felt the skin at my neck warm and tighten as if someone, or something, was pulling it together. I became more alert, though, I was sure at that point I almost preferred unconsciousness to the mayhem around me. Tension from everyone in the room encompassed me as I spoke into Damian's mind.

I wanted to go, Damian. Lay off, I told him as my eyes opened. I blinked wildly as the light from the room nearly blinded me.

He breathed a sigh of relief before rounding on Kenna. "No, I'm not going to lay off. Carter told her not to drink, and yet she did. Carter told her the dangers of going out on Halloween and she went out anyway; not only that, she took you with her. It's fine if she wants to get herself killed, but she's not going to take you with her." I had never seen him in such a rage. His eyes were the brightest of yellows, his face was like stone as he glared at Kenna.

"Ian, come on, man," Carter said, obviously torn between his best friend and his mate.

"No, Carter. This shit is beyond ridiculous."

"What's ridiculous?" My voice croaked, but I was happy to have it back.

"Tell her, Kenna," Damian said, not looking away from my best friend. Her face was ashamed, something I had never seen from her before. When Kenna remained silent, Damian continued his tirade. "Well since your friend has found the mute button, I'll tell you why I'm so fucking mad at her. Halloween is more than just a kid's holiday, Taylor. It's about more than just trick-or-treat, smell my fucking feet," Damian said as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

Kenna stood next to Carter, tears streaming down her face. She didn't speak and he offered her no comfort.

"Ian, really. She didn't ask for any of this to happen."

"Yeah, she did by going out in the first place! And she lied to you on top of it, and you sit here and-," Damian took a moment to calm himself before continuing. "Carter, I know that she's your mate, but I swear...if you turn her, both of you can find another clan to be a part of."

Carter's head whipped around as if he had been slapped and Kenna gasped. "Is it really that serious?"

"Look at Taylor and answer that for yourself!" Damian motioned to me harshly with his hand. She was an inch from death, Carter; an inch! If you turn this girl, she's going to wreak fucking havoc in my clan. She's uncontrollable as a human, the evidence of that was more than obvious the first time I saw her passed out on a fucking lawn. What will she do as a vampire? Go on a blood binge and leave all of South Bend, Mishawaka, and Granger dry and decrepit? Feeding in other clans' territories and sparking a war? We already have enough trouble between clans because of Jerusalem."

"Damian, it was no one's fault!" I interjected on Kenna's behalf. "The guy that did this probably threw the party to trap me anyway."

Damian whirled around to face me. "What are you talking about?"

I told him everything that happened up until the party, the nagging suspicion that I was being hunted, the creepy feeling all around me; then I got to the part about the nameless vampire wanting to send him a message. A deafening silence filled the room as Damian stood impossibly still. How much time had lapsed? A minute? An hour? It was too long.

"Damian," I said as I got up from the floor. I meant to walk to him, but I ended up on the other side of the room. "What the hell?" I tried to walk to Damian again and ended up on the opposite end of the room for the second time. I looked up to see everyone staring at me, wide eyed with mouths gaping. "What's wrong with me?" I looked to Damian for the answer, since I was sure this was his doing.

"I had no idea. I gave you just a drop of blood. It was only supposed to heal you," he said, his hard demeanor had diminished and was replaced by worry.

"You didn't answer my question," I felt anger rising up in my chest. He continued to sit silently, making my anger grow even more. "What did you do to me?" I almost shouted.

"It's not what you think, Taylor," he said.

"Then what the hell is it?"

"You're not a vampire."

"Then what am I? A lycan?"

"A lycan?" He laughed, and actually had the gall to look relieved. I saw nothing humorous in the situation. Anger rose up in me and without much thought, I picked up a chair, throwing it at the wall. It shattered into splinters. "Taylor, you better calm the fuck down."

"This shit isn't funny! I was human an hour ago and now I'm some freak that can't even walk across a room!"

"Taylor, shut up and listen for a second," Damian said, holding his hand in the air.

I did as he asked, not because I wanted to, but because I felt incredibly violent toward him and I didn't want to do something that I'd regret later.

While trying to dial down my anger, I heard...everything. Thoughts sailed through my brain; I could easily pin them as Kenna's because the primary focus of the pictures and words were of Carter. I heard blades of grass whistle as they swayed in the wind from the night. Owls hooted together, performing an elegant symphony with chirping crickets; there were heartbeats, two that I could hear right away; Kenna's and my own.

My heart was beating.

I wasn't a vampire, and I had never been more relieved about anything in my life. I let out a long gust of air as my shoulders slumped. My head shot up, hoping that Damian didn't catch the feelings I had just unveiled, but I was too late. My heart sank to think of how much I must have hurt him. His eyes dulled as he tried to look at anything besides me.

"She's a half-breed, then?" Carter guessed as he folded his arms, looking at me like I was an endangered species on exhibit.

"We don't have time for your little experiments, Carter. As a matter of fact, both of you can leave."

"But I live here," Carter said.

"Oh whatever. You know what I mean," Damian said, running his hands through his hair.

I shot Kenna a small smile before she left. She tried to return it, but I could see the pain still laced in her features.

I looked at the door for an immeasurable amount of time, trying to figure out what to do next; what to say. What do you do after your life was basically ended and you were brought back as a creature of the Night? What could you say when you just told the only man you'd ever loved that you didn't want to be with him forever? That's what I basically said, even though I didn't intend to. I was out of my element.

My hand reached up to where the gash in my throat was supposed to be; there wasn't even a pucker. My feet carried me to an antique mirror that stood next to a chest of drawers and my fingers trailed across the place where a scar should have been.

Tears spilled out of my eyes as I sank to the floor. After all of the fussing and fighting seemed to cease, I was left with feelings that I failed to acknowledge earlier. I almost died at a party and now was semi-undead; Damian hated Kenna, everything was turned upside down and there was no way to make sense of it all. I began to tremble like a leaf in the wind as I sobbed into the carpet, my fear and anxiety gripping me, choking me.

Damian stooped down to the floor and cradled me into his chest, rocking me until my sobs stopped. "You didn't have to do that. I'm a mess," I said, looking at the blood caked onto my body.

"It's fine, Taylor. It's just a little blood."

"I'm sorry," I sniffled while moving off of him. I needed to see his face.

"For what?"

"Making you sad earlier. You want me to become a vampire." I waited for his response as I tried to pick his brain. All I saw was a cluster of images that made no sense.

"It's okay, Taylor. I know it's hard to be something one second and the next you're a whole different being. I've went through it too, you know." His eyes didn't turn, but I knew he was still battling with my reaction to vampirism; his mouth drooped downward into a slight frown and his brow puckered, emphasizing his melancholy.

"What's going to happen to me?"

"I don't know, honey. I've never dealt with something like this before. I-," Damian began but was interrupted by the ringing of his phone.

I was surprised, and elated, that I could hear the entire conversation with my new half-breed abilities. Luke, and some guy named Titus, had found the man who tried to kill me and locked him up in the prison-wherever that was. He wasn't talking to them, but they thought Damian could persuade him to talk. I sat on the floor and tucked my knees under my chin, waiting for Damian to finish his conversation. His face turned toward me and he held out his hand where a pair of jeans and a shirt appeared. I gasped, and he smirked. I forgot that he had special abilities; he so rarely used them.

I mouthed the word "jerk" before going to find the bathroom. My newly improved sense of smell helped me to find the correct door on the first try. I walked into not really a bathroom, but more of a Zen spa, my mouth falling open.

The bathroom looked like it belonged on a post card or one of those calendars that had different pictures for every month; the type of pictures that make people hate their pitiful existence because they've never been anywhere so grand. I set my clothes on a wooden bench to the right of the door and walked to the shower; it was one of those high tech things that had showerheads embedded into the ceiling as well as the walls.

I hated the walls; they boxed me in, making me feel like I was trapped; just like the unnamed vampire trapped me in his bathroom that night to take my life. I turned the water on and let it cascade down my body; it did little to calm me as pictures from the night pushed against my brain, making me forget the calmness of the room I was in. The water from the shower was borderline scalding as I attempted to wash away the blood, the sweat, and tears from the night. I scrubbed my neck with fervor, trying to rid myself of the feeling of death.

"Hey, hey," Damian climbed into the shower and took the loofa from me. "Come here," he turned me around, hugging me into his chest where I started sobbing again. "I'm sorry this happened to you, Taylor. More sorry than you know," his voice was pained as he continued to talk to me. "I should've told you to stay home, but you were so mad at me already." His voice sounded so pained that it tore at my heart. I reflexively hugged him tighter. "Why I had Carter tell Kenna is beyond me. I should've known that she wouldn't listen, but to put you in danger too," he shook his head.

"What does that even mean? Why are you so mad at Kenna? I can't find it in your mind, and you haven't come out and said it yet."

He sighed. "Before we left, I had Carter tell Kenna about Halloween and what it means to the Nightwalkers-,"

"What about the Nightwalkers?"

He chuckled, "Well if you'd let me finish." After I muttered my apologies, he began to talk again. "Nightwalkers celebrate Halloween in the most terrible ways imaginable. It's one of their binge nights, if you will. They go lurking about in the shadows, preying on drunk and unsuspecting people...mostly young women. Some of the male Nightwalkers have made it a contest to see who can bed and drain the most women in a night. Thankfully, there were none of those types at that party, though the night was still young. I'm sure they would have shown up later."

"And Kenna knew that? I mean, she knew that there would be vampires like that?"

"Yes. That's why I'm so pissed at her."

"I'm not. Kenna would never intentionally put me into danger. I think she just wanted to help me. I was feeling pretty crappy after you left and she wanted to cheer me up." Neither one of us talked as the water poured onto us. I tried again to read Damian's mind, but it didn't work. I'd have to practice on someone else. "You know," I said, breaking the silence, "you could've told me this. I would've made sure that me and Kenna both stayed inside."

He gripped me tighter before speaking. "I'm not sure if that would've helped, baby. This man obviously wanted to get to us; he would've found another way. But you're right in that, I should've told you. I've been trying so hard to keep you safe from the other side of my world, but it hasn't helped. I haven't been myself since this mess in Jerusalem started and you've suffered because of it. I've suffered because of it. I almost lost you tonight," his voice hitched and I looked up to see tears pooling in his blue eyes. "As much as I hate to admit it, Kenna isn't totally at fault here. Yes, she lied to Carter and said that you two were going to stay in, and she was definitely wrong for involving you in her plot, but it was I that should've went straight to you in the beginning. I just didn't want you to run from me," he said, stroking my wet hair.

"Why would I run from you?"

"I had already hurt you so much, and I've been overprotective, cold in some ways. I didn't want to suffocate you anymore."

"Did you mean what you said? About Kenna and Carter having to find another clan?"

"I did at the time, but not anymore. Kenna's thoughts are filled with nothing but loathing of herself and regret...and fear. As much as I'm disappointed in her, I don't want her to feel that way. I was just so angry that all of this happened. I wanted someone else to blame besides myself."

"If anyone is to blame, it's me. I should've called you when I felt like I was being watched. I was about to, but I was being stubborn."

"Let's not do this," he held me at arm's length and looked into my eyes. "Not right now. What's done is done; all we can do is move forward, okay?"

"But what about the guy? I thought he was being held prisoner and you have to question him."

"I told Lucas that we would be there in the morning. I want you to rest tonight. All of us need to rest."

We finished up our shower and lay in Damian's bed, a companionable silence encompassing us. I felt sleep coming for me, but I wanted to put it off; I wasn't sure what my dreams would bring and I was unsure that I could handle a replay of my almost death. "Did you pick the color red for your room on purpose?" I asked, looking at the crimson wall across from me.

He chuckled. "Not in the way that you're thinking. Go to sleep, Taylor. You're tired."

My bottom lip poked out while I snuggled into his chest. I realized that this was the first time in a long time, I felt okay. Not everything was perfect, but at least I had my Damian back. It seemed like he was remorseful for his behavior over the last week or so; and it looked like he was going to start including me in all aspects of his life. I guess having your significant other almost die could do that to you; make you want to change.

Sunlight poured in through Damian's window the following morning and I flew off of the bed and into the closet, my breathing erratic and my heart trying to imprint itself into my chest. It was still surprising that I moved with such speed.

"Taylor. What's going on?" Damian asked, opening the closet door.

I hissed and back away. "The sun." I frowned.

"Taylor, the sun has been hitting your skin for hours. You're fine." He sounded amused.

"Why are you always laughing at me?" I felt the heat of anger build up in my chest as my eyes bore into Damian's.

"Because you constantly amuse me," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Why can I take the sun?"

He shrugged. "It could be because you're half human, or that you have my Daywalking abilities since it was my blood that sort of Turned you. We may never really know why."

"I'm a freak," I sighed, and sunk into the floor next to Damian's shoe collection that greatly rivaled my own.

"Awe, come here, baby. You're not a freak, just special," he told me while making his way to where I sat, slumped on the floor.

"It's the same thing."

"Come on, I have some things to talk with you about. And you need to eat," Damian said, while pulling me up from the floor and leading me into a kitchen.




We Are the Day Ch. 05



Is anything in this house...normal? The kitchen I was led to belonged in the house of some master chef, not a vampire lord. "Why?"

"You know I like to eat."

We sat down to breakfast of omelets, bacon, sausage, fried potatoes, and way too many other foods that were made by his personal chef and homemaker, Karen. She was a sweet lady who acted motherly but didn't look a day over twenty-five. Her brown hair was pulled into an elegant chignon with a few wisps that hung around her ears. I was admiring her choice in attire when Damian began to speak to me.

"You and Kenna are moving in."

I dropped my fork. "Why?"

"Last night and that party were too much for Carter and me; we want you under the same roof as us. All of your stuff will be moved in by the end of the day."

It looked like bossy Damian was back. I guess it was better than the tight-lipped, secretive, Damian. "Kenna's parents paid for that apartment through the end of the school year."

He rubbed his chin as he contemplated my words. "I'm sure we can find some use for it, then."

I picked my fork back up, feeling giddy. Damian really was trying to be...better, and I loved him for it.

"You know you've never said that to me before."

"Said what?"

"That you love me."

I felt heat rush into my cheeks. "But you already know it." I picked at a pile of potatoes before speaking again. "You haven't said it either."

"I love you, Taylor."

My insides felt like mush as I stared into Damian's eyes. "I love you, Damian."

I'm not sure how long we sat staring at each other, but it took Karen clearing her throat to break our mental embrace; our eyes stayed locked despite her interference.

"Would either of you like anything else? A glass of juice? Some more bacon?"

"No, thank you, Karen," Damian said, still not looking away from me. Karen dismissed herself without making a sound. "I want you. Right now."

"I know. I can feel it," I said, squeezing my thighs together. His arousal pressed in on me like heat in the middle of July. It had been too long since I last had Damian, my need grew with barely tamed force as my eyes raked over the man that I loved.

"Ugh. We have things to do," Damian said before folding his long fingers in front of his mouth, his eyes flashing yellow.

"What do we have to do besides question the prisoner?"

"Carter thinks that if we give you an IV drip, your blood will return to normal. You can be human again. I was thinking at that I could hook you up to a drip system while I go question the prisoner."

"What?" My mind was reeling. Did he change his mind about me? Why would he be trying to change me back? "I thought this is what you wanted."

"I only want it if you do, and you don't. The moment you thought you were a vampire, you lost it, Taylor."

"I didn't lose it." Even I could hear the lie in my voice.

"The remains of my chair say otherwise. You know I got that as a gift from Shakespeare."

I didn't give a damn about his chair. "Why do you want me to be human?"

"Because when you believed you were a vampire, you thought that you were an infection...just like the rest of us." That one little word rang in my ears as if it were every curse word, in every language, bottled up into one massive sin against God. "I gave you my blood to make sure that you'd live. Now that you're alive, you can go back to humanity."

"Don't dismiss me like that."

"I'm not dismissing you. I'm just saying that no one that sees vampires as an infection should be looking to become one. In fact, they probably shouldn't be with one, either. Though, it's a little late for that."

"Fuck you, Damian. You can be such an asshole sometimes."

His eyes pierced mine before he moved with vampiric speed to snatch me out of my chair and whisk me to his bedroom. He slammed the door before whipping around to face me, his jaw clenched and unclenched. His eyes turned to a threatening yellow and I could've swore that I heard his teeth grinding. I stood my ground, not looking away from his icy glare.

"I'm gonna let that slide because I know how trying it can be to experience a transformation. Your emotions are all over the place and you're still confused, I get that; but, if you ever speak to me in such a manner again, I will show you what 'fuck you' really means. You got me?"

I sniffed the air; it was heavy with his arousal which re-sparked my own. Now I understood what Damian said about female arousal being one of the most powerful scents; the same could be said for male arousal. Damian's scent paraded around my brain, turning all focus onto him and the bulge growing in his pants.

My eyes raked over him again, not finding any aspect of him lacking. Every move he made, every expression on his face, even the clothes that he wore turned me on. Like the first time we met, I imagined pulling my fingers through his dark tresses while I suckled his pouty lips.

"How long do I have to get those fluids?"

He seemed confused by my question but answered anyway. "A couple of days, max."

"Fuck. You." I sat on the bed, legs crossed, waiting for his reaction.

"Excuse me?"

"I believe I said, fuck you. Are you hard of hearing now?"

"You're playing with fire, Taylor," Damian ground out, running his hand through his hair.

I shrugged, testing him.

He moved with vampire speed to where I sat on his bed and pinned me beneath his body, one of his hands held both of mine above my head as he ground his erection into my mound. I groaned from the pit of my stomach. "You like to tease me with your words, like I have no idea what your game is. You get some vampire blood in you and you think you own the world; think that you can take me on. Even if you were a full-blooded vampire, you couldn't handle a thorough fucking from me. But since you think you're hot shit right now, I'll let you have your time. You can prance about as a half breed and pull cutesy little vampire stunts; but, just know that when you're back to being fully human-the petite blonde that puts everybody and everything before herself-I will hold true to my promise. That pussy is mine," he said, pushing my hands further into the mattress and trailing his tongue across my lips. "I may consider claiming your ass again, too."

"Just give it to her now, Boss," Carter called through the door. I had no idea that he and Kenna were even in the house.

"Shut up, Carter," Damian said, hopping off of the bed and heading into his bathroom. He came out and tossed the jeans and t-shirt from last night in my direction. "We have to go."

"I thought we had to talk," I frowned, realizing that my plot to get laid was ruined.

"We did talk. Get dressed."

"I am. Bossy ass."

"Yeah, okay. You're gonna see some 'bossy ass' when we get back."

My belly pooled with heat and excitement. Vampiric arousal was like nothing I had ever experienced before; it was all-consuming, heady, and erotic.

"Taylor, clothes," Damian smirked.

I made haste in my pursuit to get dressed and we ran with vampire speed down the stairs to the foyer. It, like every other room in the house, was opulently decorated. A pattern of black, cream, and gold tiles comprised the floors, a gold area rug reached from the front door to the curved staircases that we descended. Exotic-looking plants sat in expensive-looking vases that were strategically placed around the room. I was still admiring the space as Damian called out in his mind.

We're ready.

Without hesitation, people began to file into the foyer. First were Kenna and Carter, then came a brown haired man whose eyes were a startling shade of light brown-they were almost the color of butterscotch. Luke came next; I presumed it was him because he was the only one that appeared out of thin air. Two others came at lightning speed, stopping in front of Damian who wrapped his arm around my waist. Carter did the same to Kenna as the rest of the foyer's occupants linked arms. I was going to ask if we were about to pray or something when we were sucked into thin air. I didn't have time to scream before my feet hit the ground. Plumes of dust and dirt flew into the air and circled over us.

"Whoa," I muttered, leaning into Damian.

"You'll get used to it," he said, rubbing my arms.

"Doubt it. Where are we?" I asked, taking in the scenery. I knew for a fact that there were no cacti in South Bend, Indiana, unless they were kept in little clay pots; so we couldn't be there. Tumbleweeds blew across the dry, crackled landscape, making me feel like I was in the midst of an old western flick; except for the fact that there was a mansion-type house sitting to my left instead of a rundown saloon.

"We're in Yuma, Arizona."

"Why?"

"Because we love the sun. Ninety percent sunshine here," Carter grinned as we began to walk toward the out of place mansion.

"Carter! You're smoking!" I looked at the vampire as a steady stream of pale gray smoke rose from his exposed skin. My eyes darted over our surroundings for something to cover him with but found nothing. My frantic gaze met Kenna, who was grinning at me.

"It's okay, Taylor. I'm fine," Carter laughed. I'm still trying to beat the sun. It doesn't hurt as much, but I still burn some.

Confusion made my face contort as I looked at Carter and then to Damian.

We can't talk about how we beat the sun with the prisoner in ear shot, Taylor, Damian explained as he tapped his ear and motioned to the mansion.

This is how you did it? You went out and baked all day? My stomach churned as we approached the mansion. Damian pressed a code into the keypad and the metal door swung open for us. The smell of burning flesh immediately engulfed me.

"It's better if you don't breathe," Damian said, patting me on the back.

"I can't just not breathe. I'm still kinda human," I rolled my eyes.

Damian swatted my butt, "That little attitude of yours is gonna get you into trouble later." His carnal promise toyed with my already awakened libido. He gave me a grin before addressing the rest of the group. "Keep these ladies company while I entertain our captive, will you?"

"Wait, what? Why can't I go, too?" I asked, my bottom lip poked out.

"Why would I allow you to come into the same room with the man that tried to kill you?"

"Because you'll need me to keep you from killing him before we can get some useful information. You won't listen to Carter or anyone else, but you'll listen to me," I said, remembering the night I stopped him from murdering Tony.

He opened his mouth as if he were about to retort, but closed it again. He repeated the action several times, making him look like a fish out of water. He huffed before saying, "Fine. But if things go bad I want you up here with everyone else? You got me?"

"Crystal clear, Boss."

He rolled his eyes.

"Must be nice, being the vampire lord's main squeeze," Kenna said.

I turned around and stuck my tongue out at her and she returned the favor. It brought me happiness to see Kenna back to her old self; her and Carter must have talked everything through, though I wondered when she and Damian would patch things up.

We descended a couple flights of stairs before I tried to break the ice. As much as I wanted to bask in the ambience of my victory over Damian and his overprotectiveness, I didn't want him to be upset with me either. "Kenna and Carter don't seem as tense today."

"They had some intense making up sessions at your old apartment."

"That's what you guys do? Swap sex stories?"

"No, but they were blaring in his mind."

"Why didn't I hear them? Why can't I read minds like you guys? I catch glimpses of pictures, the slight flickering of emotions, but you guys seems to hear everything."

"It's a clan thing, I think. We can hear each other better because we share the clan bond. Kind of how lycans share their mind bond."

My throat hitched as I gasped. "So there really are lycans?"

Damian laughed a humorless laugh. "You'd be surprised by everything that's out there."

We ended up in a basement that had two cement walls and two glass walls. Damian pressed a code into another keypad and an invisible door swung open on the glass side before us. The man from the party was in the room, his back to us as he sat impossibly still in an old chair.

Christopher Columbus probably whittled that chair for Damian before he sailed to America, I laughed to myself internally at the remembrance of the other chair that I broke the night before. Damian tried to frown at me, but couldn't. He smiled and swatted me on the butt again. The door closed behind us, bringing our attention back to the man in the chair.

His head turned in our direction. "Hey, I remember that smell. It was more human the first time I stumbled upon it, though. Looks like you saved her after all," the man spoke.

"Yeah, well, it's what I do. Save the damsel in distress," Damian said as he approached the man. He turned him around rapidly, the prisoner's head whipping around like it wasn't attached to his neck. "So, you remember this pretty lady, huh?"

"Of course I do. She was the hottest piece of ass at that party I threw. Her and that black chick. She's here too, isn't she? I smelled her come in." He readjusted in the chair before speaking again. "I should've waited to show up to the bathroom; that way I could've fucked them both and slit two throats. I would've jizzed on their necks after, too." He grinned as his eyes shifted to me.

Damian.

It's cool. I got it, he assured me before speaking with our guest again. "Since you seem to be in the mood to run your mouth," Damian walked over to the man, cool as ever. It kind of made me jealous. I was already plotting various methods to kill this man, but Damian stayed focused. "Why don't we have a little discussion about why you were following my mate around?" Damian held out his hand and a chair appeared out of nowhere. He sat in it, extended his legs, and then crossed his ankles.

"That was a neat trick you just did, there. Though, I've seen better."

Damian smirked and three butcher's knives twirled in the air before his face, throwing light from the fluorescents above. "I agree, there are more formidable gifts out there; however, this one has its merits." By silent command, two of the knives plunged themselves through the vampire's hands; one sailed through the air and went through his stomach. Blood flew out of each puncture wound, coating the imprisoned vampire, the chair, as well as the floor.

Damian, you're not supposed to kill him, I chided. I would have spoken out loud, but I knew that my voice would be scattered by the vampire's screams.

Oh, he's fine, Taylor. A few knives aren't going to kill him. Look, he's healing already. I looked at the places where the knives stuck out of his body. I couldn't see any signs of healing, but he didn't look to be in pain anymore. He healed around the knives, Damian explained.

"Why were you following her around?" Damian asked.

"Because I wanted to fuck her."

"Wrong answer." With a wave of his hand, the knives left the unnamed man's body sending more blood to the floor. The man screamed in agony, his face contorted like the Scream painting. "You know the sun is up. If you continue to choose not to talk, I'll let the light in. All I gotta do is press a little button and you'll end up a pile of char-fucking-broil, you get me?"

As demented and twisted as it sounded, Damian had never come off more sexy than he did at that moment. He sat with confidence, his chest poked out, his eyes alert and sure. He moved with a cocky grace that I found was translated into our love life. A love life that I wanted very much to continue at the present time.

"Taylor, you mustn't tempt our guests," Damian gave me a half smile, letting me know that all of my thoughts were heard.

I inhaled, noticing the scent in the air; it was tinted with my arousal. I was instantly embarrassed. The last thing I wanted this nameless vampire to smell was my arousal.

"You know what I find odd," Damian said, now turning his attention to the man chained to the chair, "the fact that you decided to slit her throat. There were many other ways that you could've ended her life, but to slit her throat. Sounds oddly familiar, don't you think?"

"It's such a pretty throat. One that I would love to shove my cock down, if I'm being honest with you." The man looked at me, his green eyes going yellow. "Oh don't fret, little half breed, I would've saved some for your friend, too. Plenty of me to go around."

This son of a bitch is irritating the hell out of me, Damian thought.

I'd have killed him by now, Carter responded. I promise, if he says one more word about Ken, I'm coming down there.

I got it Carter. Damian sighed before reengaging the prisoner. "We get that you're pretty horny right now, but we have other things to talk about. Let's try a different approach, shall we? Who do you work for?"

"You already know who I work for, asshole. Who taught you how to interrogate? You're gonna need to pay them for more lessons."

"Were you involved in the blood smuggling?"

"Really?"

Damian waved his hand and the knives reentered the man's body, this time all of them stuck out of his left shoulder. His cries pierced the room.

"You been helping to smuggle blood?" Damian asked, resting his elbows on his knees and lacing his fingers together.

"You dick!"

Damian shook his head and the knives flew from the man's body, filling the room with more blood and curses aimed at me and Damian. "Let's try this one more time before I get really upset. You were smuggling blood, weren't you?"

"Fuck you, man!"

Damian moved with grace to one of the cement walls where a red button sat proudly against the gray backdrop. "Remember that button I said that I would push? Right here...here's the button. Were you smuggling, or not?"

"All of us were!"

"Who's us?"

"The people that want to see change in this fucked up world. We're Children of the Night, yet we cower in the shadows like rats in the sewers-like we have anything to fear from these humans," he sneered the last word, his mouth portraying his disgust. "We were never meant to hide and live our lives in secret. You remember the days when demons walked freely among men-doing what they wanted, checking who they wanted. Those days will be ours again."

"Who fed you that load? The demons that changed you? They had you enlist over some false pretense that your lot were going to rule. You will never take over as long as there is still good in the world."

The man laughed. "They said that you were weak. Always trying to fit in with the humans. Look at you! You even went and snagged yourself some human cunt. Tell me, Damian, is it? How is it that you can even begin to fuck her? A real fucking from vampire to human leads to death, you know this."

What is he talking about, Damian?

He didn't respond.

"You look confused sweetheart, let me explain," the bloody, nameless vampire seemed to gather his spunk back as he looked me in the eyes, repositioning in the chair as much as he could. "Vampires are a thousand times stronger than the toughest human; mix that with some animalistic urges and you got yourself the makings for some house crashing sex. I've seen it both ways. Two vampires went at it, tore down an entire house from their passionate embrace," he said mockingly, his smile was arrogant. "The same vampire, the male, was tired of the 'I can take anything' scene and bedded a human girl-not too much unlike yourself, Ms. Taylor."

"Don't you ever address her-," Damian began but was cut off.

"So, the vampire wooed and fucked her. I was there-saw the entire thing."




We Are the Day Ch. 05



How was it that this guy had turned the tides of our interrogation? We had been holding our own in the beginning, but now he had us under his blood soaked thumb, probably right where he wanted us. Both of us played into his trap. He wasn't going to tell us much more without incentive. I looked at Damian, hoping to pick his next mode of action from his mind, but found nothing. The blue eyed man that I knew and loved was gone and was replaced by a feral, yellow-eyed vampire. His lackadaisical stance was replaced by an angered rigidity. He was losing the battle with his temper, and our prisoner knew it.

The man continued his story. "He's plowin' into her and she's lovin' it, until his eyes turned. Went beyond the yellow to something I'd never seen-black. Straight black. She screamed bloody murder, which only made him feistier. He blew his load in her and what do we do when we come? We bite. He took a fucking chunk out of her neck; big as my fist. Blood everywhere!" He laughed as if this was the funniest thing in the world. My stomach churned. "He pulled out and started fucking her ass. She was still kinda alive at this point so, of course it hurt. I heard the tearing as he pounded her from behind. The blood from that drove him mad, of course. He came again and bit the other side of her neck. The shit looked like it was hanging on by a thread."

The heat of anger flooded my body as my eyes began to burn. I clenched and unclenched my fists; I wanted so bad to hurt this man. The way he talked about the brutal sexing and murder of a defenseless girl made me want to tear his insides out with my bare hands. Thunder sounded from above, booming in rhythm with my heart as Damian's words from our first night together came back to me.

Everything out there is not what it seems, he told me. There's a whole entire world out there that you can scarcely understand or even begin to survive in.

He was right, and after what happened to me within the last few hours coupled with what this vampire was telling us, I could never doubt him again. There was no way that I could survive anything in the vampire world as a human, especially if I was going to continuously be mixed in with the likes of the monster that sat before me.

I glared down at him as he continued to speak to me. "You're mad. I can taste it in the air, see the change in your eyes; but I haven't even gotten to the best part yet," the man said, making sure that I heard him above the constant booming of thunder. "So, he's goin' to town on this girl's ass-you'd think he'd be done after busting two loads but, no. Then what does he do? Balls up his fist, punches through the girl's back and takes her heart out." He chuckled as he continued to speak, "The shit was still beating! He drained it dry then jizzed on the girl's back. But, look; the moral of the story, vampires naturally enjoy that type of stuff. How long do you think you'll be able to hold out, D? A couple more months?" He looked at Damian before turning his attention back to me. "He'll want something more...enjoyable. Thrilling even.

"Humans can only take so much, trust me, I know. Since this sap is too pasty to really turn you, there's really only one option. He'll fuck you into oblivion and kill you, Taylor. Then he'll step right over your limp body and find something more durable. Then he'll get tired of the immortals and bed a human girl again...vicious cycle, really."

He was tipping me over the edge and he knew it. The way he said my name made me even angrier. He talked as if we were old friends; like we actually liked each other. That was far from the truth. I hated this man like I had never hated anyone before. I wanted to end his pitiful existence. Thunder boomed high above our heads and rain began to fall in torrents from the sky as the arrogant vampire began to speak again.

"Whether Damian and his pious bunch care to admit it or not, all of us that are of the Night have these urges, it's only a matter of time before we act on them," he shrugged, gloating in his victory over us. That's really what it was. We had gotten nothing from him besides he was in on the blood smuggling ordeal and that the Rogues wanted a new world order-which we already knew. He wasn't going to tell Damian anything, so it was my turn to try.

"We are not of the Night," I ground out, trying to keep my voice even. "If you haven't noticed, you're the only one here afraid of a little light," I said, moving to stand in front of the perpetrator. Damian flinched, but I ignored him. "We're Daywalkers."

"And that makes you special? You've only been a vampire for a few hours and you already think you know the lingo? Think you know the ins and outs of this world? You know jack shit, and my guess is that you're a sunbather by sheer luck and chance. Don't get cocky, baby."

"You're wasting my time; I don't have a lot of it, so I'm going to make this so simple, even you can't fuck it up." There was a hush over the entire house as people waited for my next move. To be honest, I had no idea what it was. "You're going to tell us whatever we want to know, and if you don't, we will kill you slowly and quite painfully. It'll make you slitting my throat look like a soft fucking caress, you got me?"

"Whoa! Look what we have here! Little Goldie Locks grew a pair!" His laughter turned into an inhuman snarl. "What are you gonna do to me, you little cunt? The most you're good for is a semi-good fucking. I'd bleed you fucking dry and move right on to the next in line."

As if on command, thunder pealed above us, louder than ever. Reach out your hand, I heard a voice as clear as day in my head-it belonged to no one I'd heard in my head before, but it had a familiarity to it that I had to respond to. I held my hand out and looked down. Lightning protruded from each fingertip. Damian jumped backward and our captive's eyes went back to green. I could smell a shift in the air, hear the rush of adrenaline. The prisoner was afraid; I used it to my advantage.

"You feeling talkative now?"

"Not really," he tried to sound sure of himself, but his alarm was unmistakable.

"That's a shame."

"You're not gonna do shit to me. You're just as afraid of that lightning in your hand as your punk ass mate. Go ahead and put that away now."

I pointed my index finger in his direction, getting ready to tell him just what I was going to do when a bolt of lightning left the tip and entered the man's rib cage. Agonized screams tore through the room as the vampire writhed against his constraints. I was starting to feel sorry for hurting the man so much, but then he opened his mouth.

"Bitch!" He managed to get the word out between his screams.

The other vampires in the house started making their way into the room, their thoughts ranged from confusion to curiosity.

"You talk, or we let the light in, the choice is yours." I taunted.

The man spat at me, barely missing my face. Damian took quick action and plunged all three floating knives into the offending vampire's body. I shot two bolts of lightning into his chest, making the other vampires in the room mutter their surprise.

How is this even possible? She's still a Little One.

She's only partly vampire!

That shit's awesome! Carter's voice made me laugh.

The unnamed vampire hollered at me, "You think this is funny, bitch?! I'm the least of your worries. The war is coming and it's bigger than any of you think. The world will be ruled by the Children of the Night."

"I've heard enough for today," Carter said, rubbing his eyes. "Maybe some time baking in the sun will help you to remember something of use."

"Maybe, maybe not," the injured vampire smirked.

Damian's hand pressed the little red button and sunlight poured into the room. Smoke began to rise from our captive's skin as he made his pain known. Screams bounced off the walls as I watched the man try to get loose. His escape attempts only led him, and the chair he sat in, to fall sideways onto the floor.

"Come on, let's go," Damian said. I didn't have to read his mind to figure what he meant. He was really saying, "Come on before you change your mind and let him loose". As much as I wanted to see this man suffer, it was difficult to see him in so much pain. I wouldn't have let him loose, but I would've closed off the sunlight.

"Won't he burn to death if we leave him in that room?" I asked Damian when we got home.

He looked at me peculiarly before answering. "No, the glass has a special coating-kind of similar to how windows are tinted. He'll burn, but not as fast. Plus, I put a timer on it so he only gets a dose every few minutes or so."

I nodded. "You know, if you want to ask me a question, you can just ask," I told Damian as I laid on his bed.

"Did you know?"

"How could I have known? How'd I do it?" I went to answer his, and everyone else's, question before they had the chance to voice it. "I'm not sure. I was angry, then there was a voice in my head that told me to stick my hand out, so I did."

"A voice?"

"Yeah."

"Do you know who it was?"

"I'd never heard it before in my life. Does this make me even more of a freak? The way everyone reacted," I shook my head. "Don't other people have gifts like that?"

"I've never seen a vampire control the weather and shoot lightning through a body. Put that together with the fact that you're only half a vampire and a couple of hours old...what could you do if you were full-blooded? Cause a hurricane? Electrocute tens, maybe hundreds, of people at the same time? We don't really know. But does that make you a freak? No. More of a mystery than anything."

"I don't want the IV."

"What?"

"I can just stay like this."

"No, Taylor."

"Look, if it helps for me to have these...abilities, then I can stay a vampire. The guy said that there's a war coming, and if there is, I should be there to help," Damian closed his eyes tight as I continued to talk. "Plus, if I'm not human anymore, you won't have to worry about me all the time. I can protect myself."

"Taylor, you always think too much about other people. Is this what you want, really? Your emotions will be through the roof for months-last night and this morning was just a little taste of that. You'll thirst for blood, maybe even want to kill. If you kill someone, it'll destroy you, Taylor."

My mind wandered over all of the bad things that would happen to me if I did choose to end my human life; there was still the possibility of burning if I went out during the day, I would thirst for blood; there was potential for me to become a murderer, but there was also good things that could happen. I could help Damian's clan as well as the other clans. Not only could I help them, I could be a part of something. Ever since my parents were taken away from me, I had been searching to belong somewhere. Only when Damian came into my life did I feel like it was my chance to belong.

I could be sure that Damian wouldn't get bored with taking it easy on me sexually, too. Even though the nameless vampire was the only person that I had ever hated, his story hurt my heart because it could so easily come true. What if Damian did get tired of me and my human frailty? What if he wanted something that I couldn't give? I had tried so far to do my best in bed, but I had only lost my innocence a little over a week ago; that was no time to become a sex expert. I asked Kenna as many questions as I could, I studied male anatomy, I even took to reading male magazines and articles about what they liked in bed; but that still didn't make up for decades, or even centuries, of experience that these vampire women would have.

Damian gasped as he walked with vampire speed to the bed. "Taylor, why would you think that?"

I thought I had my walls up, but apparently I let them slip in my attempt to convince Damian to let me become a vampire. I sat and looked at the wall, unable to speak.

"Taylor."

"Yes."

"Yes, as in, that's what you think?"

I began to explain in a rushed manner, my words falling on top of each other. "How could I not think that? I was a virgin before I met you, Damian. If I become human again, there's no way that I'll be able to keep up with you. You'll want someone else. Or...you know."

"No. Never! You're my mate, Taylor. That counts for a lot."

"But you said that we weren't mated."

"Remember when I put my blood into you last night to save you?"

"A blood swap," I said, my heart leaping in my chest.

"Yes. That's what would've happened if you would've bitten me. My blood runs in your veins as yours does in mine," he grabbed my hand. "I wish it would've been better, it's usually a candlelight, lovemaking, sensual affair, but we were strapped for time."

I glowed on the inside. I had finally secured my mate. I could've done a happy dance, but I held it in.

"I'm designed to be with you and only you," he told me.

"But you've slept with other women," I rolled my eyes.

His stare was penetrating. "Yes. That was before I knew of the mating bond."

"Other human women?" The question popped out of my mouth before I had time to filter it out.

His gaze became pained as he looked at me. "Yes."

The glowing on the inside of me was exstinguished and was replaced by fear. My mind was quicker than ever now that I was partly vampire; which made matters even worse. "So, that's what the guy was talking about? You've hurt human women during sex?"

He nodded and my stomach dropped along with Damian's hand. I closed my eyes so tightly that they hurt. It made my head spin, how quickly emotions could change; how life could change.

"How many?"

"It was unintentional, I didn't mean-,"

"How many, Damian?"

"Three," he rushed to explain, "but it wasn't at all like the story that guy told. I would never intentionally hurt any woman like that." I heard what he was saying, but the thunder had already began to roll, bringing with it heavy rain.

"What happened to them?"

He swallowed before answering. "Two of them had to be Turned to save their lives. The other only needed stitches."

I laughed once without humor. "She only needed stitches. So, you only fucked her until she was split in two?"

"Taylor, I-,"

"Is this the 'thorough fucking' you were planning for me when I turned back?! Is this why you didn't want me to stay like this? You want me to be a little rag doll under you? You want to hurt me? To make me scream and beg you to stop? Do your eyes turn black, too?"

A bolt of lightning shot through the window, shattering the glass. I didn't even flinch as the shards nicked and tore at my skin; I knew the wounds would heal instantly.

Just seconds ago, I was in the high of my life; sure, I had my throat slit and almost died a few hours ago, but I was alive now; more alive than I had ever felt. I had secured my mate, and started to transition into a different type of life; now all of that was null and void. The rest of the windows shattered as my anger grew in volumes. Lightning flashed in and out of the glassless windows striking various objects within the room.

"What? Taylor, no! I've never wanted those things from any of the women I've been with! Did I hurt you when I took your virginity? I even had Carter come into the room to make sure that I wouldn't hurt you."

"You fucking liar. Carter wanted to fuck me just as much as you did."

Damian blanched. "No! It's true! I wasn't sure if I could take your virginity safely, so I had Carter come watch to make sure I didn't hurt you. I lied about it so you wouldn't be afraid of me, but I never wanted to hurt you. I could never hurt you! Things got carried away and Carter got involved, but I thought you wanted it, so I allowed it. You only have but to search my mind to find that I'm telling you the truth!"

He was right, but I was past the point of reasoning. I had to leave before I killed him and everyone in the house. I felt my eyes burn as I looked through the window; it was going to be a long fall, but I was sure that I could make it.

"Taylor, don't go!" Damian screamed over the howling wind and rain that poured into the windows of his bedroom. "We can talk about this! Just give me some time to explain!"

"Taylor! What are you doing?" Kenna made it to the room with Carter and the other Firsts.

"Come now, Little One. Let's not do anything rash," Luke said.

I'd heard Luke call me that in his thoughts before; I didn't mind it as much then, but now I just wanted to tear his throat out. My head whipped in his direction and he jumped at least five feet backward. Damian fell to his knees as Kenna covered her mouth. Carter and the others stood stark still, but their eyes and scents hinted at fear.

They all feared me.

I looked up, catching a glimpse of myself in Damian's antique mirror, the only piece of unbroken glass in the room. My hair whipped around my face, my jaw was rigid and I was positioned almost into a full crouch; but that's not what held my attention. I walked to the mirror, unable to look away from my reflection. My eyes were blue instead of their natural gray, and I had no pupils...or white spaces. Just a glowing blue with little flashing bolts of lightning.

I closed my eyes. "I...I'm sorry," I tried to gain composure, but I didn't know how I could. I tried to will away the storm, but it didn't work. Thunder continued to shake the house as lightning struck all around. I was out of control. Without thinking, I launched myself out of the window and landed on the ground with barely a thud.

"Tay!"

"Taylor!"

"Where is she going?"

I didn't even have the answer to that, but I needed to get away.



We Are the Day Ch. 06



So, let me first start off by saying thank you to all of my fans that waited patiently for this next chapter. It took longer to write because I was finishing up my externship and last minute things for graduation...and I wanted to really think about this chapter. That being said, I'd like to thank those of you that stuck with me through the first five chapters even though all of the answers weren't "right there"...it says a lot about a person when they will stick around even when they don't have every piece of the puzzle. Again, thank you <3

Happy Reading!

[[CC]]

Chapter Six

I ran, and ran...and ran; the vampire speed would've been exhilarating if I was in a better mood. I weaved in and out of the forestry with no set destination in mind, but I ended up somewhere familiar. My parents were owners of a cabin in Ontario before they died-it now belonged to me, and that's where I found myself.

The cabin was just as I remembered, made of dark wood that I couldn't name, surrounded by trees, and nestled along a small lake. I lifted the worn mat in front of the door and relief flooded through me as I picked up a rusty key—now I wouldn't have to break down the door or climb through a window.

The door unlocked with ease, swinging open to reveal a scene that I hadn't laid eyes on in years. The green, corduroy couch still faced a flat screen television with the quilt my mother and I made draped over the back. My fingers trailed across the fabric as I eyed the fireplace that sat proudly under the television; the wood in it was dry, but I would have to get more. Winter was going to set in soon, and I wasn't sure if my human half would appreciate going without the fire. I was sure my human half wouldn't enjoy the emptiness that found me in the kitchen, either.

If I was thinking this situation through, I would've picked a place that actually had sustenance for my stay, like a hotel or even my old apartment rather than a cabin that had been desolate for almost five years. As if on cue, my stomach did a somersault and gurgled like a geyser.

"Damn."

I went through all of the cabinets in the kitchen, my only gain being an extremely expired can of clam chowder. I stuck my tongue out in disgust, although part of me wanted to open the can just to see how nasty it would smell and look.

It was obvious I needed to go to the store, and the nearest one was about ten miles back. "Damn, again," I muttered as I made my way to the "cash stash" drawer my father invented. He was a smart man who always wanted to be prepared for the worst; too bad it didn't save him in the end. He, nor my mother, were prepared for the drunk driver that took their lives away. I found two hundred dollars and some change in the drawer and sent up a litany of thanks to whomever was listening before running to the "mom and pop" store I saw on the way to the cabin.

"Hey there! Welcome to Clark's," a bubbly, petite brunette greeted me as I walked through the door.

I muttered my thanks before taking a shopping cart. I made quick work of my trip, grabbing items that wouldn't need a freezer or refrigerator, except for eggs. I needed those to fry fish.

"Would you like help getting these to your car?" the brunette asked after she bagged my goods.

"No, thank you. I r-uh...I walked."

Her eyes grew big. "But the nearest place is at least five miles out! You're going to walk five miles, or more, carrying all that?"

"I'm a tough cookie," I faked a smile for the girl and went about my way. I could feel the girl's eyes on me as I crossed the parking lot, so I waited until I was deep into the trees and shrubbery before starting to run. Even though I was weighed down by the groceries hanging from my arms, my feet still moved with amazing speed; so much so that I made it to the front door of the cabin before I realized there were lights on inside. My nose lifted in the attempt to pick up any smell out of the ordinary. When I found nothing out of place, my spirits lowered.

I hated to admit it, but I hoped I would find Damian or Kenna sitting on the couch, waiting to drag me back to South Bend. I wanted someone to come and tell me everything that happened over the past day and a half had been one big joke; but I knew that was a vain hope. My almost death was real, the nameless prisoner was real...Damian's rough past was more than real, as was my reaction.

I tried to forget, but the image of me blue-eyed and illuminated was hard to shake—it's not every day you see yourself looking like a character straight out of a Marvel comic book. I still couldn't believe the mess I left behind; not one aspect of Damian's house was intact. Shutters hung from the house at abnormal angles, every window was shattered, even the lawn bared the signs of my tantrum with torn up shrubbery, potholes, and a dramatic fissure that curved through the front yard. I raked my hands through my hair in my attempt to push the thoughts away. I wasn't ready to think about that stuff yet, especially since I was bound to be left with more questions than answers. My feet carried me to the closet just to the left of the cabin's entrance where my parents and I kept our outdoor gear. Behind the boots, coveralls, and backpacks was my prize: the fishing poles. I picked mine out of the bunch and took to the dock with the bait I purchased at Clark's.

I had always loved to fish with my parents. They taught me the best times to catch unsuspecting fish, how to bait a hook, how to "reel them suckers in", as my father used to say. They taught me the importance of being quiet and still, so as not to scare the fish away. Now that I had come back to the cabin as a half vampire, I knew I would be more than fine in the quiet area; physically, anyway. Mentally, there was so much noise going on that I could barely focus on the task at hand.

It was outside the prime fishing time, but I had to try. Ever since my parents built the cabin, the family tradition was that the first meal of the trip was to be caught; it was a ritual that had never been broken, and I wasn't going to be the first to ruin it.

Besides, if I don't catch a fish, I can test out my vampire weapons arsenal to catch something in the woods, I smirked and wiggled the fishing line. My time on the lake was cut short by the pulling of my catch on the other end of the line. "Tug, tug, reel," I recited the steps my father taught me to secure a catch as I stood up on the dock. The fish broke through the water and I cracked a smile. "Walleye." With my catch in hand, I ventured into the cabin and straight to the cabinet in the kitchen where my dad's special fish batter recipe was kept. I went to work, thankful for a distraction from my thoughts, and it worked for a while; until my phone started ringing again.

I continued to prepare my lunch, but when the homey sound of my catch sizzling and popping in oil was drown out by the incessant ringing, I went to switch the volume to silent mode. I said I wouldn't, but I looked at the texts and missed call log. I even had the gall to listen to the voicemails.

The frown I was sporting became more pronounced as I listened to and read the messages. It pained me to know I hurt Kenna and Damian by leaving, but it was in their best interest for me to go away. If something tipped me over the edge, I didn't want to be around and end up hurting them. Damian could probably live through most of the damage I could inflict, but Kenna was still human and I couldn't be responsible for her death if something went wrong. I probably wouldn't live through her death; I already lost my parents, I wasn't going to lose my best friend too.

My finger hovered over the "power button" when a new text came in. The name on the ID startled me.

"Carter?"

I opened the message, my curiosity awakened.

*I know where you are ;p*

I laughed in spite of my anxiety.

*No you don't.*

His responding text was a picture of my location on Google Earth. I almost dropped my phone into the frying pan.

*WTF Carter???*

*These vamps around here have all these special gifts, but all you really need is a cell phone number and you can find virtually anyone on the planet.*

*So I should probably turn it off. Not that it'll do any good since Damian CAN READ YOUR MIND!!!*

*He's not worried about my mind when he's about to lose his.*

I had to change the subject as quick as possible before guilt had me running toward South Bend.

*Where's Kenna*

*Apartment...waiting for you. She thinks you'll go there...*

That didn't help.

He fired another text before I could begin typing a response.

*D on the prowl. Shut down.*

It took me all of two seconds to completely crush my phone and half as long to realize that I could've taken the battery out and it would've been just as effective in keeping Damian from finding me. I spent my entire meal fuming that I had lost my connection to civilization.

But this is what you wanted, I told myself. You came all the way out here to be alone, and now you got it. That didn't stop me from feeling lonely or guilty. Kenna was waiting for me to come back while Damian was running around like a chicken with his head cut off.

"One of his heads does need to be cut off," I huffed while snuggling up on the couch. There were plenty of bedrooms in the cabin, but I didn't want to venture into them just yet. I hadn't been to the cabin since my parents died, and I wasn't ready to face the emptiness yet. I was a woman full of conflicting feelings, the happenings of the day behind me stated as much and proved that I did need this time apart, no matter how lonely or guilty it made me feel.

The following morning was the first time in a long time that I woke up alone; it was unsettling but somehow welcome. Birds sang their morning songs as squirrels scurried across fallen leaves and tree branches. Some fish came to the surface of the lake for a quick breather while others left the surface altogether, splashing the water as if they were playing. My lips raised into a somewhat smile.

"I trust you slept well."

I flipped off the couch, landing into a full crouch, a hiss escaping my lips. I stared at the man that spoke to me-I had never seen him before, but there was something recognizable in his voice. It made me relax some.

"Why can't I smell you?" I asked, straightening up out of my crouch.

"I can mask my scent. Maybe I should have let you smell me first...not that it would've helped any," he said, wedging his ankle over his opposite knee and peering at me from his position at the dining room table. His head cocked to the side. "You've taken to vampirism well."

I shrugged. "That's debatable."

"My name is Elias."

"That doesn't really explain who you are."

"It doesn't," he smiled as he continued to look at me.

"How old are you?" The man staring at me had to be at least twenty-something. He had a youthful face, but, conversely, the hair on his head was white, unlike the nearly black appearance of his eyebrows and lashes. He was a walking contradiction.

"You love to ask people that," he smirked. "I'm very old. Older than the ground that sits under you."

"That tells me little."

"I've been here since before Time."

"So, you're an angel?"

"No."

"Demon?"

"Nope."

"I know you're not God."

"No," he smiled.

I huffed. "I hate guessing games."

"Heavenly host. Not really an angel; I'm not as important."

"I thought heavenly hosts and angels were the same."

He contemplated this. "Most people do. Let's not trouble ourselves with what I am. I'm here for a specific purpose—,"

"I know, I know," I flipped my hands into the air, "I'm a fornicator. But I mean, who isn't these days? The whole 'wait 'til marriage' thing is so old fashioned and—,"

"I'm not here to talk about your sexual activity, Taylor. I want to talk about your gifts." His smile hinted at amusement.

"That's where I recognize your voice from," I said, as I sat back on the couch. "You were the voice in my head."

"I was."

"What do you know about what I can do?"

"Everything. It was I who gifted you. Maybe I should start from the beginning," Elias said, assessing my confusion. "You are a rare breed of human, Taylor; even before your Turning this statement was true. I gifted you at the time of your conception. Every once in a while, we get a command to gift people with different abilities; some get infinite wisdom, some are gifted with limitless self-control; there are even some people that are gifted with the ability to give unconditional love. There are other gifts that aren't so readily passed out."

"Like being able to create storms and burn holes through people with lightning?"

He nodded. "To manipulate the weather is a very rare occurrence. Once every few thousand years, if memory serves me correctly."

Manipulate weather? "Why?" I asked, horrified. "No person should be given so much power."

Elias shrugged. "His ways are higher than our ways."

"You said I was gifted before birth...so this has nothing to do with becoming a vampire?"

"Yes, and no. You being a half breed brought to life what was lying dormant within you and amplified it."

"So," I began, readjusting on the couch, "what about regular vamps then? How is it that they can do special things?"

"You know the story of the Fall, I'm sure. Your parents took you to Sunday school." I nodded and he continued. "Well, what the Fallen didn't know was that even though they gave up their spots in heaven, were cast to the Earth and called cursed, they still had some of their angelic nature; now, not so much, but in the beginning they did. So, they unknowingly started to make vampires, up until this day we don't know how it worked. A genetic mutation? Luck and chance? Who knows? But anyway, the point is, vampirism isn't purely demonic like a lot of people think. Yes, there are demon-like qualities that are associated with vampirism: the thirst, the insatiable sexual appetite; the feral, animalistic behavior; but, the gifts they possess are of angelic origins. Every person that was bitten has a choice to be bad or good, to use their gifts for good or evil. There is good in everyone in the beginning, it's just a matter of if they decide to tap into that or not. Damian Andros learned this early, and it has served him well...though his torture methods are slightly barbaric."

"So, all vampires are angel and demon, in one?"

"The good ones, yes. The one that tried to kill you, I'm afraid, is all demon now. There are many out there like him."

"Do the Rogues know this?"

"Of course they do. They're not stupid. They turned people and led them to believe that there was no hope for them, that they had to be bad because that's what they were destined to be. But they are not my concern right now. You are."

"Why? To me, crazy demons should trump the lightning-throwing chick."

"You're not just some chick that throws lightning, Taylor," Elias said as he rose from the chair and strolled to one of the windows that overlooked the lake. He was silent for too long and it made me nervous. "You've heard the story of Jacob's Ladder?"

"Refresh my memory."

"Jacob was a fighter. He fought with his brother Esau before they were even out of the womb."

"I remember. Esau was born first, but Jacob was born with a grip on Esau's ankle, foot, or something..."

"Right. All his life Jacob fought, deceived, tricked, lied...but God saw purpose in him. He was granted a dream of a ladder that stretched from Earth to Heaven."

"So there really is a ladder? Where is it?"

"Well...it's more of a Bridge. You've heard the phrase 'a bridge between the worlds'."

"Yeah," I shrugged. "But that was almost always in reference to a person," my voice trailed off as I studied Elias. He turned to look at me with a peculiar expression on his face. Sympathy and awe were the dominating expressions, and they told me everything I needed to know. "Great," I sighed, plopping back onto the couch. "Just freaking great."

"Once every thousand years or so, a Bridge is chosen to keep the connection."

"And I get no say so, do I? Just like I was turned into a vampire half-breed against my will."

"But you're starting to like that, are you not?"

"Take it back."

"What?"

"I don't want it."

"But you were wanting to keep it just yesterday."

I choked on the words I was about to utter. He was right, and it annoyed me. "People change their minds."

"Well, you can't."

"GAH! Is there anything else I should know?!? Maybe I'm going to spout a third eyeball and shoot lightning out of that one!"

"That won't happen, Taylor."

"Then what will happen?"

"I don't have the answer to that."

"Well then, how did you know that I was the Bridge or whatever?"

"I've known since you were a teen. Sit down and let me explain, Taylor. Do you want me to fix you something to eat?"

"Hosts can cook?"

His grin was sheepish. "I could try."

I shook my head.

"The history of the Bridge started with Jacob, as you know...the next bridge on file was Jesus. He only lasted for a very short time, as you know."

"So I can heal the sick, raise the dead, and all of that?"

"Jesus was a special case...and so are you. You are the first vampire-Bridge that we have encountered."

"So, no one knows what I can do?"

"We speculate. Then we have seen displays of your power. Yesterday was not the first time we saw you go blue."

"What do you mean?"

"The car accident."

My entire world stopped for a fraction of a second. "The night my parents died?"

"Your power saved you. The car was headed right for you guys, you saw it, and were gone the next second."

I didn't want to hear what he was telling me. There was no way that I was a Bridge back then. If that was the case...

"Why didn't I save my parents, too?"

"You can't think of it like that, Taylor."

"How else am I supposed to think of it? I had the power to save my family but I didn't."

"Did you remember saving yourself? Do you even remember ending up in your bed that night?"

"No."

"Exactly! You had no control over your power then. Even if you knew what was happening, you couldn't have changed anything."

"Is this supposed to be your big case to get me to be this Bridge thing? 'I can't change anything, so I have to enlist'? That's pretty crappy, if you ask me."

"You're already the Bridge. If you want to see the world fall to ruin because you refuse to use the power you have, then go for it. You didn't have the choice of whether you could save your parents or not back then, but you have the choice in whether you want to save the world or not."

"The world?"

"This is too much for one day."

"No," I began, knowing where he was headed with his train of thought. "You've started this much, you might as well tell me the rest."

Elias didn't speak, but stared at me, his dark eyes contemplative. When he continued to stay silent, I rose from the couch and met him at the window that stood next to his.

"Jerusalem, the blood smuggling, the Rogues, the crazy prisoner in Yuma...they're all linked. The Rogues want to rise to power and overtake the world, and I'm supposed to keep that from happening?"

"The Rogues do not desire power. They have it. They want to get out of Jerusalem to choose a Gate, who will want to overtake the world."

"And this Gate is what?"

"Your opposite."

"So the Gate is the link between Hell and Earth. Fun."

"I will not tell you any more today. This is too much for even my ears. Come, you must be hungry."

"Actually, I kinda lost my appetite."

My appetite didn't return for days. I could see the worry etched in Elias's features, but he remained silent and distant. At first, I thought it odd for him to be hanging around the cabin with me, but on the third day of his visit he explained that he was sent to train me to be the Bridge. I felt bad for wasting his time as I sat around moping, but each time I tried to talk myself into getting up and facing reality, I found a new reason to stay on the couch.




We Are the Day Ch. 06



"I'm sorry," I told Elias on the fifth night of his stay.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Taylor. It is I that should apologize."

"You apologize? For what?"

"For telling you all of this prematurely. I damaged your spirits."

"I don't know if you realized it, but my spirits were damaged when I got here."

"I made it worse. I'm sorry, Taylor. You had so much on your plate already and I just shoveled more on. I should've waited until you had at least dealt with being a half-vampire and that whole mess with your mate; but with your near death experience, the prisoner, and the demonic activity that we see from the other side, I had to intervene."

"It's not your fault, Elias. The timing sucks, but it is what it is."

Elias moved from his almost-permanent perch in front of the window to sit by me on the couch. He patted my leg before speaking. "Where do you want to go from here, Taylor? So much of your life has been forced on you, I want you to have a say in something."

I placed my hand over his and sighed. "Thanks for treating me as more than a lamb sent up for slaughter."

"No one thinks of you in that way, Taylor."

"Still...it's nice to actually hear that someone cares about me."

"Your friends and mate care about you."

"Yeah. Well, I tell you what. I'm gonna go shower, then I'll fix us some food. Tomorrow we can start training...whatever that means."

"It means, get ready for some tough love."

*

Elias lied. There was a lot more "tough" involved than there was "love".

"This isn't working," I complained as I sat on the dock, trying to start up a lightning storm. The most I was able to produce was a single bolt that fizzled out before it even touched the ground, and I had been trying for days. "Why isn't this working?"

"I've told you before, Taylor, you used your gift in the heat of intense anger the first couple of times. Now you're not angry, and you have to learn how to access that power through other means."

"Why did you have to gift me anyway? I already have to be the stupid Bridge thing. Wasn't that enough?"

"Apparently not."

That wasn't comforting at all. If the talents of a Bridge weren't enough to keep evil at bay, there was something more stirring than Elias was letting on.

"What aren't you telling me?"

"Taylor, I've told you everything that I know. There is a chain of command that must be followed, and I, unfortunately, am not in the position to know, or tell you, more than I already have."

I threw a stray stone in the water with excessive force. "Well then whoever is in charge should just choose another Bridge."

"Maybe it's not time for you to be the Bridge yet. Maybe you're supposed to master this half-breed business first."

"If that was the case, I shouldn't have went blue and destroyed Damian's house."

"I think we've done enough for the day," Elias said, offering me his hand. "There's a block in you somewhere. We just have to figure out why and how to get rid of it."

"It's always something," I muttered, taking Elias's proffered hand. "It's getting colder. I'm gonna need some more wood for the fireplace."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

I shook my head and departed.

Instead of running, I decided to walk through the woods, kicking almost everything in my path, though it did little to help my frustration. "Bridge my ass," I huffed as I stepped on a fern. "Can't even torch a stupid patch of grass."

I stopped my feet from moving and tried Elias's methods again. Close eyes, breathe, feel the heat of lightning pulsing through your body... "Ugh! I never feel the heat!" I said, snatching a branch off of a tree; the crack reverberated through the woods. "And I forgot the stupid axe," I said, breaking the branch in half.

"Whoa, there! You're gonna take down the entire forest with that attitude."

I wheeled around to find Carter sitting on a tree stump. He looked relaxed as always. It annoyed me. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"That's not what you're asking," he grinned.

I threw the pieces of the tree branch in his direction. "How did you sneak up on me?"

He laughed as he rose from the stump. "You were too busy demolishing the forest to notice my presence. Having a bad day?"

"A bad couple of weeks is more like it."

"What's been going on?" Carter said, picking up the remnants of the branch and placing them into a pile.

"Too much. I'm a stupid Bridge. My powers won't work unless I'm angry...the demons are going to attack."

"What?"

"Oh, never mind."

"I've never seen you so frustrated. Pissed, yeah...but frustration is a new look for you, and I don't like it too much."

"What are you doing here, Carter?"

"I had to see if you were okay. You weren't returning my calls or texts."

"I broke my phone."

"How?"

I made a crushing motion with my fist. Carter laughed so loud that the forest's occupants stirred restlessly; birds squawked and flew away, squirrels ran rampant...it would've been comical if I wasn't annoyed.

"You said to shut it down and the first thing I thought of was to crush it," I shrugged.

"You could've just taken the battery out."

I scowled into the darkness. "I know that, Carter. Did he send you out here?"

"No. I'm the only one that knows where you are."

"You didn't tell Ken?"

"No. Her mind isn't safe from Ian. He keeps browsing around her brain thinking that if you were to contact someone, it would be her."

"Way to make me feel like shit," I said while kicking a tree stump out of the ground. It flew into the air and landed with a deep thud against the forest floor.

"Hey, come on, Taylor. It was me that went after you and that was because I was the only one that was smart enough to use modern technology. You not contacting Kenna wasn't a mark against you two's friendship."

"I know. It's just that I probably should've tried to at least reach her. She's been my best friend since forever."

"She understands that her thoughts are monitored. She just misses you."

"I miss her too," I said, picking up the uprooted tree stump. "Damian is gonna be pissed when he finds out you've been keeping secrets from him. Especially this one."

Carter shrugged. "You needed your time apart. He can't see that now, but he will eventually. It might help him to realize what a fuck up he's been."

I stopped in my tracks. "What?"

"Just because he's my best friend doesn't mean I agree with everything he does. He should've told you about his past. He should've told you about Jerusalem and what it really means. He's trying to keep you safe, but in reality he's putting you into more danger. Not to mention all this is driving a wedge in your relationship that was fragile from the beginning."

"That's exactly what I said!"

"Well, Ian has never really been the type to listen to reason when his fears are involved. His fears are crippling him and he doesn't even know it."

"Have you told him this?"

"Since day one. Maybe he'll get it with you being gone."

"Or maybe he'll go crazy enough to kill himself."

"Maybe," Carter's laugh was cut short as we reached the cabin's door. "Who's inside?"

"Elias."

"Why can't I smell this Elias?"

"Because he can mask his scent," I sighed, opening the door. "Elias," I called as I closed the door.

He appeared in front of the fireplace, causing me to drop the wood. "Geez! Come on!"

"Carter. How nice of you to drop by," Elias said, frowning at Carter.

"How do you know my name? And who the fuck are you?"

I nudged Carter in the stomach with my elbow. "He's a heavenly host. You don't talk like that in front of someone from heaven, Carter."

"Heavenly host? So, he's an angel?"

Elias shook his head as he waved his hand toward the wood. Some of it went to the fireplace and I heard the rest of it clunk against the metal of the reserve outside. Elias didn't use his powers often, which made me raise my eyebrow at him. It appeared I was standing in the midst of a supernatural pissing contest.

"Heavenly hosts and angels aren't the same," I explained.

"Oh, well...whatever. Why can't I smell you?"

"Like Taylor told you, I can mask my scent."

"Why would you want to do something like that?"

"Because if the other side got wind of my presence on Earth, my mission would be exposed and we'd all be in a load of trouble."

"What side?"

"The demonic side."

"The demonic side? What are you here for, then?"

"Oh, come on! I haven't eaten in days and you two are on my last nerve. We can interrogate each other later," I said as I stomped off in the direction of the kitchen.

Much to my pleasure, the guys listened to me and kept quiet as I prepared dinner. I was sure the meal would be a silent event too, but then I realized whom I was eating with.

"You don't eat?" Carter asked Elias through a mouthful of fish.

"No."

"So, what're you doing here?"

"I'm here to train Taylor."

"For what?"

"To manage her powers."

"And be the Bridge?"

"What do you know about the Bridge?" I asked Carter, my fork clattering onto the plate.

"I was alive when the last Bridge was. There was no need for him at the time, though."

"What the hell, Carter?"

"What?!"

"You didn't say anything!"

"None of us knew until you went all X-Men on us! Then you ran off like a bat outta hell!"

"So everyone knew about the Bridge except for me? I'm not surprised, really."

"You mustn't worry yourself with that, Taylor. Carter has been around for a long time, so it's expected for him to see and know things that you don't," Elias placed his hand over mine, which didn't go unnoticed by Carter.

"So how has training been going?" I was sure Elias missed the undercurrent to Carter's voice.

"You saw me in the forest," I huffed as I stabbed an untouched piece of fish.

"That great, huh?"

"We're prepared to give it another go tomorrow," Elias told Carter.

"Good," Carter said. I wasn't sure if what he said was in response to Elias letting my hand go or the fact that I'd be training again tomorrow. Either way, I groaned.

Carter stayed the night despite my qualms.

"You're gonna get me caught," I said the next morning. "Where's Elias?"

"He went to the store, and no I'm not. I know what they all thought when I left. They think because I've known you the least of anyone that I had no chance in finding you—especially because your phone signal was out," he laughed at this.

"Oh shut up. Now when I go back, I'm gonna have to buy a new dang phone. I hate dipping into my savings."

"Like Ian wouldn't buy you a phone. He'd buy you the moon and then some if you just go back to him."

"I don't want his money or a bunch of gifts. All I want is for him to start telling me the truth."

"That's not why you're out here, though."

"How would you know?"

"Because if you were out here to get away from Ian, you wouldn't have even entertained the thought of going back. You're out here because you're scared to go back." When I didn't respond, he continued to speak. "If you want to master this power, you're gonna have to let go of fear. The fear of hurting people, the fear of not being good enough...all that's gotta go."

"But how? How do you just wake up one morning and not be afraid?"

"I have an idea." He took me by the hand and led me to the dock.

"Starting without me?" Elias said, and Carter groaned.

"Yes. I have an idea to make her lightning work without her being pissed."

"Good luck. We've been trying for days out here." I mumbled.

"Yeah, but Carter's here to make everything better now." Carter smirked.

I scoffed and he swatted my butt. "Ouch!"

"Sit over there. Yeah, on the dock. You know, water is an excellent conductor for electricity," he grinned.

"Carter!"

"Well, it is. Now tell me, how did you feel when you first used your power?"

"Overwhelmed, angry, scared, excited."

"The thing about anger, Taylor, is that it makes us irrational, uncalculated, and haphazard. You destroyed Ian's house out of anger, but if you weren't mad when you used your power, I bet you could've concentrated all that energy into shooting just his dick off."

Elias blanched.

"I still would've been angry," I said after laughing.

"Yes, but it would have been controlled. That's what you need to learn—control. It doesn't help that you're a fresh vamp, either."

"So how do I control the anger?"

"Mask it," Elias said as if he found the cure for cancer. "Find a more powerful emotion and override the anger."

"Nothing overrode the anger from when I left Damian's house," I shook my head.

"Bullshit." Elias blanched again but Carter continued. "If that was true me, Ken, Ian, and everybody else would be a pile of ash being carried about by the wind. You stopped because you saw what your power could do to us...because you love us."

I thought back to the dreaded day and found he was right. I saw myself in the mirror and what I had become—I saw what I could do to the people I loved the most—and I didn't like it. I ran for their sakes....

"Love. Ingenious," Elias folded his arms as he paced back and forth.

"Love is what will keep you from hurting those you love but will help you burn others to a crisp," Carter stuck his hands in his pockets.

I closed my eyes and pictured all of the people I loved: Kenna, Damian, Carter...my parents. The warmth filled me...but nothing happened. I waited...still nothing.

"I thought love was the stupid key!"

"Maybe you'll never get it," Carter shrugged. "Maybe the world will be overrun with a herd of demons and we'll all die."

My neck snapped back. "What?"

"I mean, the last Bridge didn't even need his powers, but he had control of them."

"You think this is fucking easy?" Elias blanched again, but I ignored him in my pursuit to get to Carter. "I'd like to see you try and do this."

"I probably could. The last Bridge made it look so easy."

Lightning began to shoot out of the sky and I realized Carter's game. He smiled before speaking. "Now, concentrate, Taylor."

I pictured the love I had for my family and friends: hugs, kisses, unexpected gifts, bedtime stories; everything I pictured filled my heart with warmth. Tears filled my eyes and hit the dock, staining it blue.

Elias took my hand and led me to the edge of the dock and pointed to the surface of the water. I saw myself, but I didn't look the same as the last time I used my power. My eyes were no longer completely blue, the new color was concentrated in my pupils. "It's finished."

"What's finished?"

"You've opened up the closed door; now you can access the power."

"You can tell all that from an eye color change, huh?"

The two men at the dock laughed and my heart lifted.

"Well, show us something, almighty Bridge," Carter said as he folded himself onto the dock.

I frowned as I listened to the movement in the water and the sound of feet, hooves, and paws padding in the woods. Lightning struck the water and fish popped up to the surface one by one. With a wave of my hand, the fish flew up to the dock and landed with a wet thud.

"Got enough fish there, Taylor?" Carter grinned. "There's only two of us that eat, you know."

"There'll be three tonight."

"You can see the future now, too?"

"No, but I can hear a longer ways away. You two should go to the store and get some things."

"I just went to the store, Taylor," Elias said.

"The ingredient list for the fish fry is on the kitchen counter," I said, picking the fish up and tossing them into a bucket. "You'd better get a move on."

"Why? What's going on?" Carter asked.

"Damian is on his way here, and he's not happy."



We Are the Day Ch. 07



To my fans and followers: It was your emails, prodding, and pleading that lead me to dive back into Taylor's story. To be honest, I wasn't going to. I did not feel a connection to the characters or the story anymore; but, you all never stopped hoping for that next chapter. You probably checked my profile, looking for updates and were sorely disappointed when I was still absent. I can only ask your forgiveness. When I received an email the other day about this series, I knew it was time...that I had to do this. I spent most Sunday night and Monday morning re-reading all the previous chapters and making mental notes about the story and characters, then I dove into picking up where I left off. I hope this chapter brings the story to the forefront of your mind and helps you fall back in love with WATD. 

To my new readers: What's up? I'm totally glad you guys chose to click on this story and read the words I've written. Now, if you're tuning in just for this chapter, it's not going to make much sense at all. Go back and read the first six chapters, at your leisure, and get to know the story and characters. 

Everyone: As always, please feel free to leave comments! I love to hear from you all! Take a look at my other stories, as well. If you're into interracial romance between a student and teacher, take a look at Mr. Lewis (which I'm going to be updating soon). If you want to latch on to a blooming romance between a cop and a college student who is engaged to an accountant (gasp!) take a look at the first chapter of my newest work, Cuffed. 

Well, I certainly have talked enough! Take pleasure in Taylor And Damian's reunion!


Happy Reading!

*****

Chapter Seven

I finished gathering the fish and made my way inside the cabin as if nothing was about to go down. I was poised for the fight; not that our impending altercation would turn into anything physical, but I knew he would be angry and demand answers and maybe even apologies. Boy, was he in for a surprise. 

"So you're going to act like you don't even see me?" Damian was right beside me in the kitchen, but he didn't catch me off guard. I heard him exit the car and run up to the cabin. 

"How's it going, Damian?"

"'How's it going'?" He took a glass off the table and hurled it at the opposite wall. I didn't even flinch as it shattered and hit the floor in hundreds of pieces. "Don't you have anything else to fucking say to me, Taylor?"

"How about, calm the fuck down?" I wheeled around to face him and he jumped backward into a crouch. He knew what I was, and it didn't surprise me.

"You've mastered it."

I huffed. "Like I had a choice. What are you doing here?"

He rose out of his crouch. "I came to bring you back home. Where you fucking belong."

"I, actually, belong here. Without me coming to this place, I wouldn't have learned everything you've been keeping from me." I turned away from him and began gutting the fish with excessive force, throwing the innards into the trash can. 

"Do you have any idea what you put us through, Taylor? What you put me through?"

I tossed the knife onto the counter and waited for the clatter to end before I spoke. "What about me? You think all of this has been easy? Well, it hasn't. Yes, I left! Of course I did! You could have come after me, but did you? No. So, don't make it look like I'm the bad guy, Damian. I left, but you let me."

He sighed. "I tried to run after you, but it was raining and the water washed away your scent. Look, will you at least turn back around so we can see each other?"

"I'm gutting fish, Damian."

"Well put the damn thing down, Taylor. I'm trying to talk to you."

I laughed without humor. "That's your problem. You come in here and think you're running stuff. You don't run shit here, Damian Andros. This is my cabin. If I want to have my back facing you while I cut this fucking walleye, I will do it. You don't own me. As far as I'm concerned, we aren't even a thing anymore; so, it was nice fucking knowin' ya, but I think you should leave." He didn't answer, so I continued. "Would you have come peacefully and not have broken one of my parents' glasses in the process, maybe I would have been more receptive to you being here; but, in your normal Damian Andros way, you came in on your high horse and messed everything up."

I saw the turmoil in his mind. I'd hurt him; he never thought I'd ever be able to pull the plug on our relationship. He didn't even think there was a plug. He questioned the mating bond and if it was truly forever. He saw exactly what I wanted him to see, me being a good actress. 

"Taylor," he ground out. 

I turned around, my eyes wet with tears. "Damian." I lowered my guard and let him into my head. 

He groaned. "This is your game?" He moved toward me and laced his fingers into the hair at the nape of my neck. "You wanted to hurt me as much as you've been hurt?" He released me and backed away. "Taylor..." he shook his head as if he couldn't believe it. "Did I do this to you?"

"Every time you decided to keep the truth from me, you made me feel like you didn't want me. Like I wasn't really your partner. Partners are supposed to share everything with each other. I understand you wanted to protect me...and I knew you didn't want me to run away from you when it came to you and the other women but..."

"Taylor, I am in much better control of myself these days. Trust me. What happened was a long time ago—way before I ever knew you. I didn't set out to hurt anyone. You have to believe me."

"I know. You...you just should've told me."

"How, Taylor? When did I ever have the chance? That's not something you bring up in casual conversation."

"I know. And I realize I overreacted. It was just the weight of everything coming down on me. The prisoner, you not telling me everything about Jerusalem and the Rogues...my new vampirism. I snapped. I guess I was trying to be stronger than what I was."

"You...are so strong, Taylor. You have dealt with more in these past few weeks than most people deal with in their entire lives. I just thought I could save you from this. I never wanted this life for you."

"How could you want anything for me? This all just happened."

"I knew what you were before anyone, Taylor."

"How?"

"We didn't meet just a few weeks ago. I have known, and loved, you for quite some time."

"Hold on...are you about to tell me you've been one of those creepy, vampire stalker guys?"

My attempt at humor worked. I watched as he tried not to smile. "I am trying to tell you the truth, Taylor. The entire truth. If you would let me finish."

I waved my hand at him, signifying that he should continue. 

"You were still in high school and I was a wanderer; not much to do in my free time, so I studied people. I saw you at the mall once and I followed you. I followed you for quite some time. I knew, then, what the mating bond was and I felt it as soon as I saw you; but you were much too young to be taken. Way too young. You still had your entire life ahead of you. I could wait, and I did."

I couldn't help but ask. "Did you know what I was then?" 

"Not until the accident." He laughed lightly, looking into the distance as if trying to remember every detail of the story. "That night, my feelings were all over the place. I saw you interacting with your parents, and they interacted with you. I hated myself for what I had become. If I wasn't this," he motioned to himself, "I could have had a longer relationship with my parents. If they didn't hate me, I could have publically gone to their burials. I followed you that night because I was lonely and jealous and wildly turned on. I was jealous of how you could spend time with your parent and it was obvious how much they loved you. My parents hated the thought of me at the end," he shook his head. "Your scent as I followed you was...God. Butterscotch in way, but not...with vanilla...it's hard to explain, but I was hard most of the night. When I wasn't loathing myself or being sad because my parents hated me, I was fighting the urge to follow you into the bathroom and make you mine. But I stayed my distance and continued to follow. I went to the same restaurant as you guys, I went to see the same movie...I went to get ice cream at the same place. It was a wonder how no one noticed my presence. 

"Then, on the way home, a drunk driver was headed straight for you guys, but by the time I realized what was going on, it was too late. I saw a flash of blue light that alerted me to the fact the Bridge was in the car. I knew someone in the vehicle had escaped, my money was on you, of course. I went to the wreckage and saw you were out and safe; I knew, then, what you were. Your parents...they were gone. The drunk guy stumbled out of his car being an idiot, as most drunks are. I knew your life was about to change and the changes were going to be tough. No one, especially at your age, should have to be without their parents. I knew the feeling and that, coupled with my earlier angst, I snapped the guy's neck, punched a hole in his windshield, and made it look like he went through it."

"You have a habit of doing that."

"What's that?"

"Punching out windshields." I didn't say anything about Damian killing the man that killed my parents because he deserved to die. He took some of the people most precious to me and it was way before their time. I didn't hate the man anymore, but forgiveness was something I had to work on. 

Damian smirked. "People can't lock their windshields, now can they? Anyways, I went back to your house and found you sleeping as if the night never happened. At that point, I decided it was better for me to leave you alone. The Bridge should never be tied in with someone like me. And I did stay away...up until I passed by Bar Louie a few weeks ago. I picked up your scent and was bidden like a ship to a siren's song. I was going to walk away, but then I caught Tony's scent and thoughts. He should've died that day. But anyway...here we are. I couldn't stay away. Everything about you drew me in. I was a goner before I'd even talked to you. Since I first laid eyes on you, I had never desired another. I was celibate until we started seeing each other."

"But, how will I ever be enough for you? I mean...is it true...what the prisoner said?"

He didn't need to ask what I meant. "In some ways, yes. It is true that the women could not sate the hunger; but, that was until I met you. We are mates for a purpose. You satisfy me in every sense of the word. That asshole prisoner, Karn, knows that. He was just wanting to upset you."

"Well, it worked," I grumbled. "So you aren't going to get tired of me and...you know?" I sounded weak in my own ears, but I didn't care. I needed Damian in my life, and I would let him know it.

"No," he opened his arms and leaned toward me but retracted. I guess he was still trying to assess whether or not I would cook him alive. 

I closed the gap between us and wrapped my arms around him. It felt like home. I breathed in his scent—pine and something else. Sexuality...can you bottle sexuality?

He relaxed into my embrace before wrapping his arms around me. "You are my mate, but I must confess, I am new to this relationship business. I am not used to having to be accountable to anyone, and I did not handle it well, but I promise to try and be better. I don't want us to keep hurting each other like this."

"I just want to be included in your life. I want us to talk, and often. I want us to have some sort of normalcy aside from all the vampire stuff. I want you to trust me with the information that goes on in your clan and the others. I want us to be partners...not just you running stuff and me being hidden in the dark."

"My primary instinct is to protect you, Taylor. I cannot change that, but I can redirect, I think. It helps knowing you can take care of yourself." He released me and held me at arm's length. "I should not underestimate your strength. I have been a bad...boyfriend," he tested the word on his lips and it made me laugh. 

"Boyfriend, huh?"

"Yeah, well...you said you wanted normalcy. Boyfriend is a normal term, is it not?"

I laughed. "I guess."

"Look, Taylor. I love you and I do not want to mess this up anymore. I promise to be better. Just say you'll come home with me. Please."

"I will, but if you start to fall back into your old habits, I'm gonna tell you about it and you have to listen."

"I promise." Damian's face went from warm and inviting to homicidal vampire Lord. "I should fucking kill you. You knew where she was and you didn't even say anything." He turned toward the door just as Carter and Elias walked through, their arms full of groceries. 

"Hey! Watch the language around the heavenly host!" I motioned to Elias. 

"Worry not, Taylor. I just endured a trip to the grocery store with Carter. Every other word out of his mouth was a curse of some sort. Though, some I am sure he made up himself."

Carter continued as if Elias, nor I, hadn't spoken. "What good would it had done you, Ian? You would have just fucked it all up again. She needed her time, and you needed yours."

"And who gave you the authority to make that decision?"

"I didn't think I needed the authority to do the right thing."

Damian was set to retort, but he couldn't find a rebuttal. He knew Carter was right, just like I knew it. 

"Now, if you guys are done," I said, taking the silence as an opportunity to end the riff, "maybe you can put the groceries down and set the table... and stop being idiots."

Damian pointed a finger at Carter. "Next time, you will tell me."

Carter snorted. "You'd better hope there isn't a next time."

"Table," I reminded the pair. 

"And you better not have touched her," Damian said, putting plates in their rightful position. 

"And if I did?" Carter grinned as he set down forks. "You know we had so much fun last time."

"I am sorry you have to deal with this all the time, Taylor," Elias laughed. "These two are quite the pair."

"Tell me about it," I rolled my eyes.

After the meal, I cleared the plates and washed the dishes before putting them back in their original place. With the help of the guys, I tidied the cabin and locked up. 

Much was accomplished that night; I felt like a ton of weight was released from my shoulders. Damian answered all my questions over dinner, though, some he hesitated with; but, he answered nonetheless. I didn't have the nagging feeling he was hiding things from me, but that could have been because there was nothing to hide. They hadn't gotten any closer to figuring out what else was going on in Jerusalem; and, there also hadn't been any attacks on the house (since mine) so they were in an alerted lull. 

We were set to leave; I turned back toward the cabin and patted the door with a sigh, slipping the spare key into my pocket. 

"We can always come back," Damian told me, sensing my sadness and reluctance to leave. 

"I know. I just haven't been here in so long...It's sad leaving it behind all over again."

"I know I'm coming back! It's peaceful out here," Carter said. 

"It was until you showed up," I laughed. 

"Well, see if I rescue you again," Carter huffed before sliding into the driver seat of his car. "Some nerve...after I gave her the best sexing in her life," Carter shook his head. "Come on, Elias. We know when we aren't wanted."

The atmosphere around us shifted; Carter became uncomfortable as he drove away and Damian grew nervous. Maybe there was something more Damian didn't tell me about Jerusalem. Why didn't he tell me at the table? Did he not trust Elias?

"Carter wishes me to discuss something with you, but it's not what you're thinking." Damian told me as he pulled out onto the highway. 

"I went with my next guess. Does he want to have sex again? He's been joking about it a lot..."

Damian laughed. "No. That's not it, though he does think about the tryst more often than I'd like," Damian rolled his eyes. "He and Kenna have been having discussions about her joining the clan."

"Like, as in...being Turned?"

"Yes."

"Well, why didn't he just ask me? Not that my opinion on the subject matters anyway."

"He thought it would be...proper...to ask you since you are her best friend. He's already went through the formalities as it relates to presenting her before me and the clan for approval." 

"Wow...I missed a lot. Well, how does Kenna feel about it?"

"Graduation is just next month, so she wants to wait for that...you know, just in case."

I saw pictures of Kenna in his mind. She was flashing around town with her newly found vampire strength and agility, feeding wherever she wanted; having sex with anyone she wanted, and killing anyone that got in her way. "Oh."

"Yes. That, and she has to keep up appearances for her family. They expect her to graduate...and on time. Of course, she wanted to wait to talk to you about it, too."

"After graduation we were both planning on marrying traditionally then being Turned soon after, so...this is nothing new to me."

Damian relaxed. "So, Carter and I were needlessly worrying?"

"Yes," I laughed. "I want to finish school, too. It was always my parents' dream for me to go to college and do what I love. I've just missed so much class recently."

"Well, how were your grades before all of this?"

"Good. Really good, actually. All I did before this was study and work." 

"Then, they probably didn't fall too much. If that is really what you want, I could always go over there and...persuade... your teachers to be more lenient." 

I shook my head. "Damian."

"What?"

"What am I going to do with you?" 

"I have a couple ideas," he turned to look at me, his eyes glinting yellow. "You have no idea how much I have missed you. You know, I've never had you to myself." His eyes were fully yellow now as he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. 

I was ready to give a witty response when Damian's phone rang. He looked at the phone's caller ID before answering it through a button on the steering wheel. "Luke," he sighed. 

"There is news."

He glanced in my direction before saying, "Proceed."

"The prisoner is ready to talk."

Damian turned to look at me, "It seems I'm not going to be able to fuck you yet."

"Um?"

"Not you, Luke. I was speaking with Taylor."

"Ah, Miss Taylor is returning?" 

"We will be there shortly," Damian smiled. 

"Very good."

Damian hung up the phone and reached over the center console to link his fingers with mine. 

"Luke sounded happy about me coming back..."

"Everyone will be. We all want you with us, Taylor." He kissed my hand as he continued to speed down the highway.



We Are the Day



Tony nodded and scurried away as Damian brought out his phone. "I need a car over on Willis Street in South Bend. Yeah, right over by the Catholic campus. Uh," he said, contemplating something, "best make it the Edge. Her friend is drunk," he said, ending the call.

"How do you know Kenna's drunk? What the hell is going on?"

"The less you know, the better and at this point you already know too much. But I guess that's my own fault," he tightened his hand on his phone before tapping the corner of it against his forehead. "Fuck."

"What?"

"I shouldn't have even came after you. I should've let you take your lunch break and study, but then that fucker, Tony," he spit his name, "I had to do something," I looked up at him and his eyes flicked from blue to yellow. "Look. Just go inside and get your friend. She's in the bathroom," he told me as he paced the lawn. I could tell that he wasn't in the mood to be questioned, so I held my tongue.

Sure enough, Kenna was sitting in the bathtub, looking a mess. Her hair was frizzy, her makeup was smeared and oozing down her cheeks...I don't know why she did this to herself almost every weekend.

"Kenna. Come on, let's go," I told her, irritation flooding my voice. I drug her out of the apartment and to the patch of grass where I sat earlier. There was a black, Ford Edge waiting for us.

"I'll lay her in the back," Damian said, appearing out of nowhere. "Get in the front." I did exactly as he asked, not wanting his anger to be geared toward me.

He drove us the few blocks to our apartment. The ride was silent except for Kenna's snoring. "How'd you know where I live?" I asked, as he pulled up right in front of the apartment.

He eyed me as if to say "I know everything" before exiting the car. "Go get the door."

"You're so bossy," I huffed.

I went straight to Kenna's room and pulled back her covers. Damian was there before I could turn around.

"God! Jeez! Can't you make more noise when you move? Maybe move a bit slower? Somethin'!"

He chuckled as he lay Kenna in her bed. "Did I frighten you?"

"Yes, obviously!"

"I apologize," he laughed.

"No you don't! You think it's funny to scare people! I saw the look in your eyes when you had Tony dangling in the air."

He laughed even harder. "The poor kid soiled himself!" I sighed and left the room. He beat me to the kitchen, a glass of water in his hand. "I'm sorry. This must be traumatic for you. Here," he said, handing me the water.

"Traumatic, no. I'm sure it would've been worse if he succeeded in his goal."

"I definitely would've killed him then. Nobody could've saved him."

"Are you some type of vigilante?"

His head bobbed from side to side as he contemplated this. "In a way, yes. But don't worry yourself with who or what I am."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because you're still in shock, and I don't want to be the cause of your break down. Come sit," he said pulling me toward the couch.

He was right. I was in shock. My hands rattled as water flew out of my glass and I started crying. I was so focused on getting Kenna out of that apartment that I didn't even notice that I was about to lose it. Story of my life.

"Shh, shh. It's okay," Damian told me while rocking me back and forth. "I'm sure he won't approach you again. I could've been absolutely sure if you would've just let me kill him."

"Do you take pleasure in killing people?" I sniffled.

"The ones that deserve it, yes."

I sat in his lap and pondered that as well as what he could be. A trained assassin was what I thought was most plausible. But what would a skilled assassin be doing in South Bend, Indiana? He could be some science experiment gone wrong, I thought, remembering the days when I used to watch the CW's Beauty and the Beast. The longer I sat and thought, the more crazy my ideas became. At one point, I was entertaining the thought of transformation through a bug bite. I felt him chuckling under his breath.

"I'm not sure how you do it, but I'm gonna need you to quit reading my mind."

"I wouldn't if I could. And it could come in handy for a number of things."

"Whatever," I sighed. "How'd you know that I'm a virgin?"

"Do we really have to talk about this? I'm rather enjoying your company."

"I just really want to know. I thought I hid it well."

"Why would you want to hide it? It's nothing to be ashamed of, Taylor."

I shrugged. "It's usually a turn off to guys. I'm one of the extremes."

"Extremes?"

"There are two extremes on the sexual experience pole. Me-the virgin, then there's the other end of the pole where the sexually promiscuous girls are. Nobody wants to bed a virgin," I sighed.

"On the contrary, I find it hot. It means that you can be taught so many new and exciting things."

"And who better to teach me than a man that claims to be alive when Jesus walked the earth?"

"Jesus was a good man, and was killed injudiciously."

"What are you?"

He lifted his eyebrows and smiled wickedly. "Right now, I'm somebody that's about to kiss you."

I gasped as his lips met mine. They were gentle and coaxing until I moaned into his mouth. The little noise ignited something in him, his lips moving with fervor as his tongue curled in and out of my mouth. I straddled his lap, hungry for more; his hands roamed over my back before knotting in my hair. "Damian," I whispered.

Producing a sound similar to a growl, Damian flipped me over so that I lay under him, my legs wrapped around his waist. I gasped, surprised by how fast we moved. It wasn't natural, but at that point I didn't care. I reached up, running my hands through his dark, silky tresses. I rubbed my mound on his crotch, hoping that the friction would ease the fire erupting in my lower belly and pants. Damian hissed into my mouth and something sharp hit my bottom lip. Damian stiffened.

"Damian? What-?"

"You're bleeding. I bit your lip too hard," he said, not looking away from my lips.

"Oh," I said, before moving to wipe the blood away. He stopped me by putting his lips to mine. He kissed me even more wildly, his tongue laving at my bottom lip where the blood trickled out. I pushed him away. "Damian!"

He gave me a pained expression before darting from my couch and out of the front door. It clicked almost silently, signaling his exit. I sunk into the couch as tears began to spill down my face all over again.